600 Chess Puzzles: From Beginner to Master (Part5)
Hello everyone! Welcome to Part 5 of the “600 Chess Puzzles: From Beginner to Master” series. This is the largest section so far, featuring 300 carefully selected puzzles designed to deeply sharpen your tactical vision, calculation skills, and overall board awareness.
These puzzles cover a wide range of themes and difficulty levels, gradually pushing you from basic tactical ideas to more complex and demanding positions. Don’t rush through them _ take your time, calculate variations thoroughly, and challenge yourself to find the best moves before checking the solutions.
If you work through this part seriously, you’ll notice a real improvement in your pattern recognition and decision-making at the board. Let’s dive in and enjoy the journey _ good luck and have fun solving!
Puzzle 241: Black to play
This game ended in a draw. What win did Black miss at this point?
Solution 241: Black to play
F.Polyakov – Emmoth
Stockholm 2018/19
In the game 62...Bc3? 63 Rb3 = led to an equal position. For example, 63...Be5 (as played in the game) 64 Kc4 = or 63...f5 64 exf5 exf5 65 Kc4! Be5 66 gxf5 and the white king is in time to intercept the gpawn. Black should have chosen 62...f5! 63 exf5 exf5 64 gxf5 g4! 65 Kc4 g3 –+, as here the black pawn wins the race.
Puzzle 242: White to play
A precise move gave White a huge advantage. What did he play?
Solution 242: White to play
Lyrberg – Pranav
Stockholm 2018/19
The key weakness is the b6pawn, and to exploit it White needs to preserve his knight. 39 Nc4! Not: 39 Ne4+? Ke7 =; 39 Nxf5? gxf5 =. 39...Ne7 39...Ke7 40 Rb8 +–. 40 Kg4 + The b6pawn is an insoluble problem for Black, since he can only defend it at a heavy cost, such as g6 dropping off. For example, 40...Kg7 41 Re8 Kf6 (41...Kf7 42 Rb8 Nd5 43 Ne5+ and now 43...Kg7 44 Kg5 +– or 43...Kf6 44 Rg8 +–) 42 Ne5 Kg7 (42...Nd5 43 Rxe6+ +–) 43 Kg5 +–.
Puzzle 243: White to play
White’s h4pawn looks set to fall. What should he do about that?
Solution 243: White to play
K.Holm – Sandu (variation)
Stockholm 2018/19
The best defence is attack! 31 d5! Not 31 Ke3? Rxh4 =. After 31 R5g3?! Bf5! (not 31...Rxh4? 32 d5 +–) things aren’t looking so bad for Black. While 32 Re3 is still difficult for Black (the point being 32...Rxh4 33 d5), it is far from clearly lost. 31...exd5 31...Bxd5 32 Rxg6 Rxh4 33 Rg7+ Kh8 +– offers White a lot of winning moves, the simplest being 34 Rc7. 32 e6 Rf8 33 Re5 Re8 34 Ke3 + Now that the king has a way in, White wins easily.
Puzzle 244: Black to play
How can Black hold the draw?
Solution 244: Black to play
H.Sörensen – Tryggestad
Stockholm 2018/19
Black has no time to win the knight on d3, and must play carefully to halt the white gpawn. 61...Ke7! Not: a) 61...Nb4? 62 g6 Nxd3 (62...Rxd3+ 63 Ke2 Ra3 64 g7 +–) 63 g7 +–, winning. b) 61...Ne7? 62 g6 Nf5+ 63 Kf4! Rxd3 64 Rxf5 and the pawn can’t be stopped: 64...exf5 65 g7 +– or 64...Rxd4+ 65 Ke3 +–. 62 Kd2 Nxd4 with an equal position.
Puzzle 245: Black to play
The fpawn appears to be unstoppable. So what saving resources are left for Black?
Solution 245: Black to play
Lyell – Midhun
Hastings 2018/19
Black’s sole hope is perpetual check. 38...Ref3! 38...Rxe4? loses to 39 Kxg3 +–, while in the game Black played 38...Rh3+? 39 Kg2 Reg3+ 40 Kf2 +–, when the king was off the hook and the fpawn decisive. 39 Rxf3 39 f7 Rh3+ 40 Kg2 Rhg3+ = with perpetual check. 39...Rxf3 40 Ra4 Rxf6 41 Rxa7 Kxc5 = with an equal endgame.
Puzzle 246: White to play
Only one move leads to victory. Which one is it?
Solution 246: White to play
Bellia – Slugin
Stockholm 2018/19
The white bishop is under attack, but rather than moving it, White should seize the chance to promote his pawn: 49 h6! (not 49 Ba1? Kf7 =) and there’s no way to stop the pawn. For example, 49...Rxd4 50 h7 Rd3+ 51 Kh4 +–.
Puzzle 247: White to play
Black is about to queen. Is there any escape for White?
Solution 247: White to play
Vestby-Ellingsen – H.Sörensen (variation)
Stockholm 2018/19
36 Ng8+! Not 36 d6? Rf1!, when Black wins. For example: 37 d7 b1Q 38 d8Q Rh1+ with a mating attack. 36...Kxh5 36...Kh7 37 Nf6+ = and the black king can’t go to h8 because of the mate. 37 Nf6+ Kh6 38 Ng8+ = with perpetual check.
Puzzle 248: White to play
How can White hold the draw?
Solution 248: White to play
Regmi – Larmet (variation)
Mumbai 2018/19
62 Nxg4! (White mustn’t delay: after 62 Kc5? g3 63 Kd4 Bb5 –+ he will not get another chance to sacrifice his knight for the pawn) 62...Kxg4 63 Kc5 Kf4 64 Kd4 =. The king heads towards a1 and the standard ‘bishop and wrong rook’s pawn’ draw is clear.
Puzzle 249: Black to play
Where should the black rook go?
Solution 249: Black to play
R.Kaufman – B.Jacobson (variation)
Burlingame 2019
40...Rb4 41 Rxa5 (41 Be2 a4 –+) 41...Nb7! (a dualpurpose move: the knight attacks the rook and blocks the possible check on a7; not 41...Nb3? 42 Ra7+ +/–) 42 Ra4 Rxb5 43 Rxe4+ Kf6 –+ and Black should win.
Puzzle 250: Black to play
How can Black halt the advance of the bpawn?
Solution 250: Black to play
Faulks – Choi
Hastings 2018/19
Black needs to blockade on a dark square, and the obvious choice is b6. Once you’ve realized that, it is clear where the knight must go: 46...Na8! (the game featured 46...Kc8? 47 Kb6 Kd7 48 Bd1 +– with an easy win for White) 47 Ka6 Kc7 48 Be2 Nb6 =. Black has created a fortress. White has no way through.
Puzzle 251: Black to play
Despite White’s menacing block of passed pawns, Black has a way to achieve a draw.
Solution 251: Black to play
Ritviz – Das (variation)
Mumbai 2018/19
43...Re6! 44 b7 (44 Ba5? g5 –+) 44...Rb6 (Black picks up the b5 pawn and can then fend off the remaining two passed pawns) 45 Bc3 Rxb5 46 Be5+ Rxe5!? (46...Ka7 47 h4 Rxe5 =) 47 fxe5 f4 with a drawn position as neither king can advance very far without letting an enemy pawn promote.
Puzzle 252: Black to play
Several pieces are under attack. What should Black play?
Solution 252: Black to play
Kurbonboeva – V.Kulkarni
Mumbai 2018/19
40...exd3! 41 Kxh4 (41 Rxe8 d2 –+ was played in the game) 41...Bg6! –+. The rook’s way back is blocked, so White can’t stop the dpawn.
Puzzle 253: White to play
Two of White’s pieces are threatened. What should he do?
Solution 253: White to play
Ameir – Subhayan
Mumbai 2018/19
In the endgame, a rook and a pawn are often a good match for bishop and knight, especially if the rook is active and has plenty of targets. That suggests 23 Rd1! (not 23 Ne2? Nxd3 24 Nxf4 Nxf4–/+) 23...Rxd4 24 Bxh7+ Kxh7 25 Rxd4 Be6 (as played in the game) 26 f3 with a playable and roughly equal position.
Puzzle 254: Black to play
The a4pawn can’t be protected. So how should Black continue?
Solution 254: Black to play
Gajek – Kurbonboeva
Mumbai 2018/19 41...Kd6! 42 Nc4+ (42 Nxa4? loses to 42...Bxa4 43 Kxa4 Kc5 –+) 42...Ke6 43 Nb2 Kd6 44 Nc4+ ½-½. White can’t take the pawn, so the game is balanced.
Puzzle 255: Black to play
Black found a clearcut win. What was it?
Solution 255: Black to play
V.Kulkarni – Z.Rahman
Mumbai 2018/19
40...Ng1+! 41 Kh4 (41 Kh2 Nxf3+ –+) 41...Nxf3+! (suddenly, the king proves very useful on f6; not 41...Rxg2? 42 Rxf7+ =) 42 Kh3 (42 gxf3 Rh2#) 42...Ne5 leaves the white king in a hopeless predicament: 43 a4 (43 Ra6+, as played in the game, is met by 43...Ke7 –+) 43...g5 44 axb5 g4+ with mate in a few moves.
Puzzle 256: White to play
How can White achieve a draw?
Solution 256: White to play
Kathmale – Khusenkhojaev
Mumbai 2018/19
He needs to attack the hpawn from behind: 61 Rc6+! Ke7 (61...Ke5, as played in the game, is met by 62 Rh6 =) 62 Rh6! (not 62 Rc5? Rxb4+ 63 Kxa6 h4 –+) 62...Rxb4+ 63 Kxa6 with an equal position.
Puzzle 257: White to play
How should White take on e4?
Solution 257: White to play
Kravtsiv – Ahmadinia
Dubai 2012
In fact, his choice is between giving up a pawn or a knight! 35 Rxe4 (not 35 Nxe4? due to 35...Ne2! 36 Rg4 Rxe4 37 Rxe4 Ng3+ –+) 35...Nxf5 (as played in the game) 36 Rf4 and White is worse, but should be able to hold the draw without too much trouble: 36...Re1+ (36...Re5 37 g4 =+) 37 Kh2 Ne3 38 Kg3 =+.
Puzzle 258: White to play
Where should White put his rook?
Solution 258: White to play
Saurabh – Das
Mumbai 2018/19
White can win as long as he keeps the black king in its hopeless predicament: 41 Rd7! (both 41 Ra8+? Kg7 42 Nxd5 = and 41 Rb7? Nd6 =+ allow Black to get his king safely out of the corner) 41...Rd6 (41...Nd6 42 Nxd5 Ne8 43 Kh6 +–; 41...d4 42 Kh6 +–) 42 Rb7 and Black resigned in view of 42...Nd4 43 Kh6 g5+ 44 Kxg5 with a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 259: Black to play
Black has two tempting moves, but one of them lets White escape his fate.
Solution 259: Black to play
R.Kaufman – B.Jacobson
Burlingame 2019
49...Rc2! 49...Nc5+? 50 Ke5 Nxe6 (50...Rc2 51 Ra1! =+) 51 Rxa4! and White should hold the draw. 50 Rxc2+ Or: 50 Rxa4 Nc5+ –+; 50 Ra3 Kb4 51 Bxb3 axb3 –+ (played in the game). 50...Kxc2 –+ White can’t stop the apawn.
Puzzle 260: Black to play
Evaluate the position and find the best continuation.
Solution 260: Black to play
Larmet – Laoussing
Mumbai 2018/19
Black can hold as long as he doesn’t try to win the white bpawn. 62...Kb6! Not 62...Nb6+? 63 Ka5, and then: a) Black is not saved by 63...Nd5 64 Bc1 Kd6 65 Ka6 Nc7+ 66 Kb6 Nd5+ (66...Kd7 67 Kc5 +–) 67 Ka7 Kc5 68 b6 +–. b) After 63...Nc4+ 64 Ka6 Nxd2 65 b6 +– (as played in the game) the pawn will promote. 63 Ba5+ Kb7 64 Bd2 Kb6 = with an equal position.
Puzzle 261: Black to play
Black appears to have big problems. How can he save himself?
Solution 261: Black to play
Kravtsiv – Van den Doel (variation)
Roosendaal 2012
Black must distract and deflect White’s darksquared bishop: 41...Ra3! (41...Rc2? 42 Bd4 +–; 41...Bxd7? 42 Bxf6+ +–) 42 Bd4 Rxe3! 43 Bxe3 Nxd7 with a drawn ending, although Black will still have to defend with some care.
Puzzle 262: White to play
With oppositecoloured bishops, even two extra pawns don’t always guarantee a win, so care is needed here.
Solution 262: White to play
Deepan – Rajesh (variation)
Mumbai 2018/19
White needs to bring his king to g6 to help shepherd the pawns forward: 75 Kf5! Bg3 (75...Ke7 76 Kg6 +–) 76 Kg5! (not 76 g5? Ke7 77 Bd1 Kf7 with a draw) 76...Ke7 77 f5 Be5 78 Kg6 and White wins.
Puzzle 263: Black to play
How can Black secure a decisive advantage?
Solution 263: Black to play
R.Shah – Bhasima
Mumbai 2018/19
It’s essential to evaluate the pawn ending correctly. 31...Nxb5! A clean win. Other moves are far less effective: a) The game featured 31...axb5? 32 Kd2 =+. b) 31...a5?! 32 Kd2 Kb6 33 c4 Kc5 34 Kc3 with good chances to resist. 32 Bxb5 After 32 Kd2 Nd6 –+ White has no chance of surviving. 32...axb5 33 Kd3 Kd6 34 Ke3 Kc5 35 Kd3 b4 –+ with a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 264: White to play
In the game, White threw away the win with his next move, even though it looked very natural. What should he play?
Solution 264: White to play
Sari – B.Lindberg
Stockholm 2018/19
White should advance his king to e7, since then he wins even with the rooks exchanged. 64 Kd6! At first glance it is worth playing 64 Ra7? (as chosen in the game) since it keeps the rook active, but after 64...Bg6 Black holds the position. For example: 65 Bd5 (65 Bxg6 Rxg6 66 Ra8+ Rg8 =) 65...Rf8. 64...Rxa8 65 Bxa8 Kg8 65...h5 66 Ke7 Kg8 comes to the same thing. 66 Ke7 h5 67 Bc6 h4 Now White has two ways to win: 68 Be8 +– or 68 Bg2 Bh5 69 Bd5+ +–.
Puzzle 265: White to play
White has a number of tempting moves, but only one of them wins.
Solution 265: White to play
Koykka – Kolbus
Stockholm 2018/19
The solution is not very complicated, but the main challenge is to avoid the false paths. 38 e7! Not: a) 38 Qb7+? Kg8 39 Qc8+ (39 e7? Rg4+ –+) 39...Qf8 =. b) 38 Qc3+? (chosen in the game) 38...Kg8! = and White can’t play 39 e7? because of 39...Qd5+ –+. c) 38 Qh3? Qd5+ 39 Kh2 Qd6!? 40 Qh6+ Kg8 41 Qxg6+ Kh8 = and White must settle for giving perpetual check. 38...Rxf3 39 e8N+ Kf8 40 Nxd6 with a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 266: White to play
White’s position looks hopeless, but he has a way to save himself. How?
Solution 266: White to play
Bellia – Soysal (variation)
Stockholm 2018/19
62 Kd3! Kc5 (62...g5 63 Rc2 Rf4 64 Rc1 g4 65 Rc8 = and Black has no way to advance his pawns) 63 Rc2+! Kd5 (63...Kd6!? is a better try, but after the accurate 64 Re2! g5 65 Kc4 Rf4 66 Re1 g4 67 Re8 = Black can’t strengthen his position; for example, 67...Kd7 68 Re5 Kd6 69 Re8 =) 64 Rg2! =. This stalemate idea is the key resource that enables White to save the game. Well done if you spotted it!
Puzzle 267: Black to play
White has a strong cpawn. How can Black nevertheless draw?
Solution 267: Black to play
Bai Xue – Mi Tenglong
Tianjin 2018/19
Black must bring his king to the queenside without delay. 46...Ke7! Other moves fail: a) After 46...Kg5? 47 Rf8 White wins by bringing his rook to d6. 47...Kh5 (as played in the game) is met by 48 Rd8 Rf6 (48...g5 49 Rd6 +–) 49 c6 +–. b) 46...Kg7? 47 Re4 and without the king’s help, the black rooks can’t stop the cpawn on their own: 47...Kf6 (47...Rc8 48 Re6 R6c7 49 c6 +–) 48 Rf2+ Kg5 (48...Kg7 49 Re7+ +–) 49 Re5+ Kg4 50 Rc2 and Black’s position is hopeless: 50...Rf6 (50...g5 51 Re6 +–) 51 c6 +–. 47 Re2+ Or: 47 Rh4 Rf6 48 Rh7+ Kd8 =; 47 Re4+ Kd7 48 Rh4 Rd6+ = (but not 48...Rf6? 49 c6+! +–). 47...Kd7 48 Rf7+ Kc8 and Black is fine. For example, 49 Rf8+ (49 Re8+ Kb7 50 Rxc7+ Rxc7 =) 49...Kd7!? (49...Kb7 50 Rb2+ Ka6 51 Rc2 Kb7 =) 50 Rc2 Rd6+ = (or 50...Ke7 =).
Puzzle 268: White to play
White can hang on thanks to his a6pawn. But he must start off with a strong move.
Solution 268: White to play
Li Yankai – Peng Xiongjian
Tianjin 2018/19
It is important to appreciate that Black can’t take the h5pawn yet, as right now the P vs N+P ending would be drawn, but that will not be the case if Black has time to play 55...f5. 55 Rg2+! White forces the issue. He loses after 55 Ra2? f5 –+, 55 Kb5? f5 56 Rg2+ (as played in the game) 56...Kh4 57 Rg8 Na7+ 58 Ka5 Kxh5 + or 55 Rc2? Rxa6 56 Rxc8 Kxh5 –+ since the white king is too far away from the black pawn. 55...Kxh5 After other moves Black will lose his f7pawn, with a drawn ending: 55...Kf5 56 Rc2 Na7 57 Rc7 =+; 55...Kh4 56 Rf2 Rxa6 57 Rxf7 =+; 55...Kf3 56 Rc2 =. 56 Rh2+ Kg5 57 Rxh6! Kxh6 58 Kc5 The king is just in time to drive the knight away from c8. It will either be Q vs Q or a repetition with the king constantly attacking the knight: 58...f5 59 Kc6 f4 60 Kb7 Nd6+ 61 Kc6 =.
Puzzle 269: Black to play
Where should the king go?
Solution 269: Black to play
Deviatkin – Divya
Mumbai 2018/19
This isn’t an ending where Black can afford to leave his king locked up behind the kingside pawns. He must seek to break out by playing ...g5 as soon as possible. 40...Kh6! Not: a) 40...Kg8? 41 Rd8+ Kh7 42 Rf8 Rc7 43 Ra8 +–. b) 40...Kh7? 41 Rd7 Rc7 (41...Kg8 42 Rd8+ transposes to the 40...Kg8? line) 42 Rfd3 +– leaves the black king stuck. Then 42...Kh6 43 Rxc7 Rxc7 44 f4 +– was played in the game. 41 Rd8 41 Rd7 Rc7 42 Rfd3 (42 Re7 g5 =) 42...g5 =. 41...Rc8 42 Rfd3 Rxd8 42...g5!?. 43 Rxd8 g5 with a roughly equal position.
Puzzle 270: Black to play
Black has some problems. How should he solve them?
Solution 270: Black to play
Peng Shunkai – A.Katz
Burlingame 2019
White is threatening to take the d6pawn by exploiting the loose bishop on e3, and there is only one way to address that issue. 33...Bh6! Not: a) 33...d5? 34 Nc5 +–. b) 33...Qe7? 34 Nxd6 Nxd6 (34...Bg5 35 Ne4 +– was played in the game) 35 Bxd6 Qxd6 36 Qxe3 +–. 34 g4 d5 Or 34...Nxd4!? 35 cxd4 Qf3+ 36 Kg1 Be3+ 37 Nf2, when both 37...Bxd4 and 37...Qxh3 are unclear. 35 gxf5 dxe4 36 Qxe4 Qxf5 with a roughly equal position.
Puzzle 271: Black to play
Black found a nice way to win. What was it?
Solution 271: Black to play
Ameir – Subhayan
Mumbai 2018/19
Black’s winning chances are all pinned on his dpawn. 39...Nd4! 40 Re7 40 b4 Nb3 –+ and 40 Kd2 Nxb3+ 41 Kc3 d2 42 Rd8 Ke4 –+ (as played in the game) are hopeless for White. 40...Nxb3 41 g4+ Kf6! After 41...Kxg4? 42 Rxg7+ Kf5 43 Rxb7 d2 44 Rd7 = White draws by giving up his rook for knight and pawn, while 41...Kg6?! 42 Rxb7 Bc2? (Black can still win with 42...d2! 43 Rd7 Kf6!, even though he has wasted a tempo) 43 Rd7 =+ leaves the king too far from the action on g6, explaining why it must head for d5. 42 Rxb7 d2 43 Rd7 Ke6 44 Rd8 Bc2 Black has a decisive advantage: 45 Rxd2 Nxd2 46 Kxd2 Be4 47 Ke3 Kd5 –+.
Puzzle 272: Black to play
Black must defend well to avoid getting into a bad position.
Solution 272: Black to play
Siva – Thrish
Mumbai 2018/19
38...Qe7! 38...Nb8? loses to 39 Qa5 +–, while after 38...Ne7? (as played in the game) 39 c5! Nxf5 40 Qb4 Kg8 41 c6 +– the strong passed cpawn gives White a decisive advantage. 39 Qf2 After 39 Qxe7+ Nxe7, with the queens gone Black is fine: 40 Kf2 a5 (40...Ng8!? is also unclear) 41 Kf3 a4 with unclear play. 39...Nb4! 40 Qxd4 Nxd3 41 Qxd3 Kg8 The position is close to equality, as White’s extra pawn plays no special role.
Puzzle 273: Black to play
Black seems to be in trouble. How should he be saved?
Solution 273: Black to play
Ali Marandi – B.Escalante
Burlingame 2019
39...Rb1! 40 Kxb7 c5! After 40...Rxb4+? 41 Kxc6 Rb5 42 Re5 Rb3 43 Rc5 +– White will win the a6pawn and promote this own apawn, while Black will be nothing like as fast on the kingside. 41 Kxa6 The game was agreed drawn after 41 Kb6!? in view of 41...Rxb4+ 42 Kxc5 Rb5+ =. 41...Rxb4 = Black is no worse here since the white king is stranded on the afile.
Puzzle 274: Black to play
Black’s king is in danger. How can he survive?
Solution 274: Black to play
Mullon – Mullick
Stockholm 2018/19
With a couple of precise moves, Black can gain enough play against the white king to simplify into a tenable ending. 39...Nd4! 39...Re8? (as played in the game) loses to 40 Kd5! Nd8 (40...a5 41 Bf6 +–) 41 Bxd8 Rxd8+ 42 Rd7 Re8 (42...Rb8 43 e7!? Kf7 44 Rd8 +–) 43 Rxb7 +–. 40 Re7 Nb3+ Now the main problems are behind Black, though White can still pose some challenges. Instead 40...a5? loses to 41 Bf6 +–, while 40...h6? 41 Bxh6! is very unpleasant for Black. The only other move to survive is the surprising 40...b6+?!, when 41 Kxb6 Rd6+ 42 Kc5 Rxe6 43 Kxd4 Rxe7 44 Bxe7 a5! is a drawn ending, as indicated by the engines and their tablebases. 41 Kb4 Or: 41 Kc4 Nd2+ = (or 41...Na5+ =); 41 Kb6 Rd6+ 42 Kc7 Rc6+ = and White can’t play 43 Kxb7? because of 43...Rxe6 –+. 41...Nd4 42 Kc4!? A better try than 42 Rxb7?! Re8 =+ or 42 Kc5 Nb3+ =. 42...Nc6! Here Black could still go astray: 42...b5+?! 43 Kc5 Nb3+ 44 Kb6 Nd4 45 Kc7 +/– gives White winning chances. 43 Rd7 The point is 43 Rxb7?? Na5+ –+. 43...Rxd7! 44 exd7 Kf7 While White is eliminating Black’s queenside pawns, Black will be able to exchange off White’s pawns on the other flank. For example: 45 d8Q (after 45 Kd5 a5 46 d8Q Nxd8 47 Bxd8 a4 White is even in danger of losing unless he starts playing more cautiously) 45...Nxd8 46 Bxd8 Ke6 47 Kc5 b5 48 Bg5 b4 49 Kxb4 Kd5 =.
Puzzle 275: Black to play
White is obviously better due to his active pieces. But do you see a way for Black to defend?
Solution 275: Black to play
Pantzar – Lahav
Stockholm 2018/19
If Black can exchange off the d6rook, his chances of holding the position will be vastly improved. 61...Rc2! 61...Rf7? 62 Ne6+ Kh6 63 g3 +– occurred in the game. 62 h5 White gains nothing from 62 Ne6+ Kf7!. 62...Rc6! Not 62...gxh5+? 63 Nxh5+ Kf7 64 Nf4 with a large advantage for White. Then 64...Rc6?! doesn’t save Black: 65 Rxc6 bxc6 66 Nd3! Rb7 67 Ne5+ Ke6 68 Nc4 +–. 63 Rd8 Rf7 Threatening to take on b6. With further accurate play, Black is now OK: 64 Kg5 (64 e5 Rc4 65 g3 Re7 =) 64...h6+! 65 Kg4 g5 66 Nd5 Rf8 and the game should end in a draw.
Puzzle 276: Black to play
The game ended in a draw. Show how Black could have done better.
Solution 276: Black to play
Saidy – T.Kung
Burlingame 2019
58...Kf5! (after 58...f5? 59 h5 f4 60 Kg7 f3 the game was agreed drawn since after 61 h6 f2 62 h7 = Black’s extra bishop is not of much use; the g6pawn provides adequate cover for the white king) 59 Kg7 (59 Kh7 Bd7 {not 59...Kg4? 60 Kg7! f5 61 Kf6 Bc4 62 h5 =} 60 g7 Be6 –+) 59...Bd7! (Black needs to take aim at the g6pawn) 60 h5 (60 Kf7 Be8+ 61 Kxe8 Kxg6 –+) 60...Be8 61 Kh6 Kg4 62 g7 (62 Kg7 Kg5 –+) 62...Bf7 –+ and it’s time for White to resign.
Puzzle 277: Black to play
How should Black take on f6?
Solution 277: Black to play
Elgabry – S.Chowdhury (variation)
Mumbai 2018/19
In fact, both moves are good enough to hold the draw, but from a practical viewpoint it makes far more sense to take with the king on f6, as the bishop is doing a good job on d8 holding back the white c pawn. 45...Kxf6!? 45...Bxf6?! 46 Kc4 Ke6 47 c6 and now if the bishop returns to d8, Black has lost a tempo compared to the 45...Kxf6!? line. Then 47...Bd8? 48 Kb5 +– and 47...Kd6? 48 Kb5 Kc7 (48...Bd8 49 Bc5+! Ke6 50 Bb6 +–) 49 f3 Kc8 50 Kc5 +– both lose, but 47...e4! draws; e.g., 48 Kb5 Be5 49 Kb6 Kf5 50 Kb7!? (50 c7 Bxc7+ 51 Kxc7 Kg4 52 Kd6 Kf3 and ...g5g4g3 =, eliminating White’s last pawn) 50...g5 51 Bd4 Bf4 52 Ba7 Kg4! (the only way; not 52...g4? 53 Bb8 +–) 53 Bb8 Kf3 54 Bxf4 gxf4 55 c7 Kxf2! 56 c8Q e3! =. 46 Kc4 46 c6 Ke6 47 Kc4 transposes to the main line. 46...Ke6 46...e4 47 Kd5 Kf5 48 c6 Ba5! is more complex. 47 c6 e4!? Black can also save his skin by 47...Kd6 48 Kb5 Bc7! 49 Bb6 Bb8 =. 48 Kb5 Or 48 Bf4 Kf5! 49 c7 (49 Bb8 Kg4 =) 49...Bxc7 50 Bxc7 Kg4 =. 48...g5! 49 Bb6 Be7 50 Ka6 Bd6 51 c7 51 Kb7 g4 =. 51...Bxc7 52 Bxc7 Now one way to draw is 52...e3 53 fxe3 Kd5 =, when the white king is too far away to protect the e3pawn.
Puzzle 278: Black to play
Does Black have a way to play for a win?
Solution 278: Black to play
F.Bruno – Kravtsiv
Livigno 2012
Yes, with accurate play Black can win a pawn. 34...Kd8! After 34...Kd6?! 35 Rxb7 Kc6 (as played in the game; 35...Bxa2 36 Ke1 =) 36 Re7 the position is more or less equal: 36...Bxa2 (36...Rxb4 37 Bb3 =) 37 Ba4+ Kb6 38 Be8 =. 35 Rxb7 Kc8 36 Re7 Or: 36 Ra7 Kb8 37 Re7 Bxa2 –/+; 36 Rb6 Kc7 –+ and White is forced to take the bishop on e6. 36...Bxa2 37 Bc2 Rxb4 –/+ with an extra pawn and chances to win.
Puzzle 279: Black to play
The situation looks hopeless, but Black has a way to save himself.
Solution 279: Black to play
Deviatkin – Tran Minh
Mumbai 2018/19
The main thing is not to let the white king hide behind the bpawn. 70...Qe5! 70...Qb1? 71 Ke3 Qe1+ 72 Kd4 Qxf2+ 73 Kd5 +– was played in the game. 71 b6 Or: 71 Qc8+ Kg7 =; 71 Qc6 Qf5+ 72 Ke2 Qe5+ 73 Kd3 Qb2! 74 Qd5 Qxf2 =. 71...Qf5+ 72 Ke2 Other lines: a) 72 Ke3 Qe5+! (72...Qxg5+? 73 Kd4 +–) 73 Kd3 Qd6+ 74 Qd4 Qe6 (now White can’t advance his pawn because of the check on a6; 74...Qc6!? = is also good enough) 75 Qd8+ Kh7 =. b) 72 Kg2 Qxg5+ 73 Kf1 Qh5 74 Qc8+ (74 b7? Qh1+ –/+) 74...Kg7 75 b7 Qd1+ = and Black will keep checking the white king. 72...Qb1! 72...Qe5+? 73 Kf1 +–. 73 Qb3 73 Qc8+ Kg7 74 b7 Qxa2+ =. 73...Qe4+ 73...Qxb3?! is a poor practical decision even though the queen ending after 74 axb3 a2 75 b7 += should be drawn with accurate defence. 74 Kd1 Qd4+ 75 Kc1 Qc5+ = The king can’t escape the checks.
Puzzle 280: White to play
Things look bad for White, but he has a way to hang on.
Solution 280: White to play
Tryggestad – J.Salomon
Stockholm 2018/19
If the lightsquared bishops are exchanged, then the g6pawn will be a significant weakness. 51 Bd5! 51 Nd5? loses to 51...Bc6 –+, while in the game White went astray with 51 f3?, when Black could have played 51...Bf7!? 52 Bd5 c4 –+. 51...Bf7 After 51...Bd7 52 Qa8 Qf6 53 Qb7 Bf5 54 Be4 or 51...Qd7 52 Qa6 Bf6 53 Ne6+ Kh6 54 Qd3 White has sufficient compensation. 52 Bxf7! Kxf7 53 Qe4 White has enough play for the pawn. The darksquared bishop can’t help the pawns advance, while the black queen is tied to the defence of g6. The game is roughly equal.
Puzzle 281: Black to play
Black’s next move in the game allowed White to survive. Show how Black could have done better.
Solution 281: Black to play
V.Larsson – Sandu
Stockholm 2018/19
The position of Black’s queen needs to be improved. 57...Qf6! Not: a) 57...g4? 58 c6 g3 59 Qe3 =. b) 57...Qf8+? 58 Kc7 Bxd7 (58...Qe7 59 c6 =) 59 Kxd7 =. c) After 57...Bxd7? 58 Qxd7 Qxd7+ 59 Kxd7 the game ended in a draw. 58 c6 58 Kc7 Qe5+ 59 Kd8 g4 –+. 58...Qf4+! 59 Ke7 Qb4+ 60 Kd8 Or: 60 Ke8 Kg8 –+; 60 Kf6 Qd6 –+. 60...Qd6 –+ Black has halted the white pawns, and an exchange of queens comes too slowly to help. For example: 61 Qb7 g4 62 Kc8 g3 63 Qc7 (63 Qb1+ f5 –+) 63...Qxc7+ 64 Kxc7 g2 with an extra piece and an easy win.
Puzzle 282: Black to play
Endings with knights can be very tricky as they may need to use odd routes to get to their best squares.
Solution 282: Black to play
Thapa – Thrish
Mumbai 2018/19
White wants to put his knight on b5, while Black needs to bring his own knight back into the defence as quickly as possible. 68...f5+! Not: a) 68...Kd6? exposes the king to a check from b5: 69 Nc3 f5+ 70 Kd3 a4 71 Nb5+ +–. b) 68...Nd2+? puts the knight too far away from the c6pawn: 69 Kd4 Kd6 (69...Nb3+ 70 Kc3 Nc1 71 Kc4 +–) 70 Nc3 Nf3+ 71 Ke4 Nd2+ 72 Kd3 Nf3 73 Nb5+ +–. 69 Ke5 Nd2! After 69...f4? (as played in the game) White wrongly agreed to a draw since 70 Nc3 leaves his pawns a step ahead in the race to promote: 70...f3 71 Nb5+ Kb6 72 c7 Kb7 73 d6 Nc5 (73...f2 74 d7 +–) 74 Na7! +–. Now after 70 Kxf5 (70 Kd4 Ne4 =; 70 d6+!? Kxc6 71 Ke6 Nf3 72 d7 Nd4+! 73 Ke7 Kb5! and Black stops the pawn thanks to the possible fork with ...Nc6+) 70...Kd6 (70...Nc4? 71 Ke6 +–) 71 Nc3 Nc4 the knight succeeds in reaching b6 and Black is OK: 72 Ke4 Nb6 73 Kd4 (73 Nb5+ Kc5 =) 73...Nxd5 74 Nxd5 Kxc6 =.
Puzzle 283: White to play
Usually, the fewer pieces there are, the easier the position is. But not always...
Solution 283: White to play
Nikhil – Konguvel (variation)
Mumbai 2018/19
If Black manages to advance his pawn to f3, then he will win. This can only be prevented by White pushing his own fpawn. 44 f4! 44 Bh6? Kh5! 45 Be3 Kg4 –+ denies White time to advance his f pawn, while after 44 Bf8? Kg4 45 Bc5 Kf3 46 Be3 f5 47 Bb6 Be5 –+ Black wins easily; e.g., 48 Ba7 f4 49 Bb6 Ke2 50 Ba7 f3 51 Bb6 Bf6 52 Ba7 Bh4 –+. 44...Kg4 45 Bh6 White holds the position despite his bishop being nailed down on h6. 45...Bd4 46 Kb1 Kf3 47 Kc2 Ke4 48 Kb1 =
Puzzle 284: Black to play
In the game Black lost by underestimating White’s attack. What should Black play here?
Solution 284: Black to play
Babikov – Gueci
Stockholm 2018/19
Black shouldn’t give White time to bring his king to h3. 40...Kh5! Not: a) 40...Qe5? 41 Bf8+ Kg5 42 Qxh7 +–. b) 40...a6? 41 Kg2 b5 (41...Kh5 42 Qf6 Kh6 43 Kh3 +–) 42 Qf8+ Kh5 43 Qf6 Kh6 44 Kh3 bxc4 45 Bf8+ Kh5 46 Qh4#. c) 40...Be5? 41 Kg2 Bf4 (41...Qc6 42 Bf8+ Kg5 43 Qxh7 +–) 42 Qf8+ Kh5 43 Qf6 Kh6 44 Kh3 +– (as played in the game) gives White a mating attack. 41 Qxh7+ 41 Qf6?! doesn’t work when the king is on f1: 41...Qxc4+ 42 Kg2 Bc1 =+. 41...Bh6 42 Kg2 Qxc4 43 Bf8 Qf4 = with an equal position.
Puzzle 285: Black to play
Can Black take the pawn on e6?
Solution 285: Black to play
Kravtsiv – Batchuluun
Kazan tt 2013
It’s essential to evaluate the pawn ending correctly. My opponent did so, and rightly chose... 42...Rxe6 Now I opted for the bishop ending, and the game was later drawn. But let’s see why the pawn ending also offers nothing: 43 Bh4+ Kf5 44 Rxe6 Kxe6 45 Bxe7 Kxe7 46 Kd4 Kd6! Not 46...Ke6? 47 Kc5 +–. 47 h4 h5! The only move to draw. This ensures that the black king will make it safely back to f8 in time after both kings have gone pawnchasing. Black loses after 47...Kc6? 48 h5 +–. 48 a5 Kc6 49 a6 Kb6 50 Kxd5 Kxa6 51 Ke5 Kb6 52 Kf6 Kc6 53 Kg6 Kd7 54 Kxh5 Ke8 55 Kg6 Kf8 =
Puzzle 286: White to play
White has a distinct advantage, but only one path leads to victory.
Solution 286: White to play
Tarun – Kurbonboeva (variation)
Mumbai 2018/19
Your main choice was between transferring the king to b3 and reactivating the knight. 32 Nc1! 32 Qb3?! Kg7 gives White a much smaller advantage, while after 32 Kc2?! g5 33 hxg5+ Kxg5 Black holds the position thanks to the outside passed hpawn: 34 Kb3 (34 Qd3!? Ng6 +=) 34...h5 35 Qxb4 Nc8! is unclear. 32...Qf2+ Here 32...g5 is well met by 33 hxg5+ Kxg5 34 Nd3 +–. 33 Kd1! Not 33 Qe2? Qxe2+ 34 Kxe2 Nc8 =. Now Black loses quickly; for example: 33...Qd4+ (33...Qf3+ 34 Kc2 +–; 33...Qxh4 34 Qxa6+ Kg5 35 Qd6 +–; 33...Qxb2 34 d6 +–) 34 Qxd4 exd4 35 Ke2 and the connected passed pawns in the centre are too strong: 35...Ke5 36 Kf3 +–.
6: Tough Nuts
Here we come to some of our most difficult puzzles: these 45 positions are all level 4 or level 5 (including the level 5 endgame exercises held over from the previous chapter). Even if you can’t solve a position, think seriously about each one and try to make a decision (as you would have to at the board) before looking at the solution. Always make sure you understand the solution and what, if anything, you missed.
Puzzle 287: Black to play
Black has a way to win, but the best moves are not so easy to find.
Solution 287: Black to play
Sapale – F.Polyakov
Stockholm 2018/19
A couple of precise moves make everything clear: 27...Re2! (in the game, 27...Rc5? 28 Ne7! allowed White a large advantage, while 27...Bd4? 28 Rxd3 {28 Nxd4? Qxd4 –+} 28...Rxf2 {28...Bxf2+ 29 Kh1 =} 29 Qd5! is unclear) 28 Rxd3 (White has little choice, as letting Black advance the dpawn would also be fatal: 28 h3 d2 –+; 28 g4 Rf8 –+) 28...Rfxf2! 29 Rxf2 Re1+ 30 Qf1 Rxf1+ 31 Kxf1 Qxc6 –+ with an easy win.
Puzzle 288: White to play
Find the best way to continue the attack.
Solution 288: White to play
Heberla – Gholami (variation)
Stockholm 2018/19
Just two accurate moves are enough to give White a decisive advantage: 27 Nd2! (not 27 Rff1? Rc8 28 Qb5 {28 Qxd5 Rxc3 =+} 28...Rhg8! 29 Nd2 {29 g3?! Rxc3 =+} 29...Rc7 with an unclear position) 27...Qa7 (27...Qa8 loses to 28 Nc4 +–) 28 Nc4! (instead after 28 Rxd5? Rxd5 29 Qxd5 Rc8 Black can survive) and now that the knight is fully in the attack, Black has no chance to resist. For instance: 28...Rc8 (28...dxc4 29 Rfb5 +–) 29 Qxd5 (or 29 Na5!? Rc7 30 Qxd5 +–) 29...Qa6 (29...Rhd8 loses to 30 Qxf7 Rc7 31 Ra5 +–, while after 29...Rc7 there are various wins, including 30 Qe4! Rxc4 {30...Qa6 31 Rfb5 +–} 31 Ra5 +–) 30 Qb5 (or 30 Na5 Rc7 31 Qb5 +–) 30...Qxb5 31 Rfxb5 Rxc4 (31...Rc7 32 Na5 +–) 32 Rxb7+ Ka8 33 Rxe7 with a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 289: White to play
Evaluate the position and find the best move.
Solution 289: White to play
Storme – Mullon
Stockholm 2018/19
At the board it was no doubt hard to realize that White should be looking for a way to equalize. 26 Qe1! (the ‘active’ 26 h3? Qd3 27 Bh6 was played in the game, when Black could have played 27...Kf7! –/+, nullifying the threat of 28 Rxc6, while the problem of the d4pawn remains) 26...Qd3 27 Rd1 Qe4 (27...Qc2 28 Qd2 =) 28 Qd2 with a roughly equal position.
Puzzle 290: White to play
How does White continue his attack?
Solution 290: White to play
Ganaus – Vestby-Ellingsen
Stockholm 2018/19
Because of the threat against e5, White does not have time to defend his knight – but for tactical reasons he doesn’t need to! 15 Qf3! (not 15 f4? Bxe5! 16 dxe5 {16 fxe5 Kxg5 is unclear} 16...Qxd1+ 17 Rxd1 Nd7 with a roughly equal position) 15...Kxg5 16 Qg3+ (also good is 16 Be2!? Kh6 17 Kd2 +–) 16...Kf5 (or 16...Kh6 17 Bd3! cxd3 18 Kd2 Qe8 19 Rh1+ Qh5 20 Rxh5+ Kxh5 21 Qh2+ +– with an easy win) 17 Be2 Ke6 (or 17...Bxe5 18 dxe5 Ke6 19 Qf4 +–) and now White has more than one path to victory; e.g., 18 Bg4+ Kf7 19 Bh5+ Kf8 20 Qf4+ (after the weaker 20 Qg6?! Qd5 21 Qe8+ Kg7, as played in the game, Black should survive) 20...Bf6 21 exf6 exf6 22 Kd2 +– with a decisive advantage. 22...Be6 is met by 23 Re1.
Puzzle 291: Black to play
In the game Black made a mistake here and lost. And he could have been much better...
Solution 291: Black to play
Tran Tuan Minh – Raghunandan
Mumbai 2018/19
Black can halt the pawn’s advance by seizing a sudden chance to attack the white king. 29...Qe8! (29...Qe6? loses to 30 d7 Re1+ 31 Kh2 +–, while after 29...Rbe5? 30 d7 +– Black loses because he doesn’t have a queen check on b8, and after 30...Qd8, as played in the game, White wins with 31 Kh2 Re1 32 Qc2 +–) 30 Qd2! (White must find some ‘only’ moves just to fight for a draw; not 30 d7? Re1+ 31 Kh2 Qb8+ –+, while 30 Kh2? loses to 30...Rd4! 31 Rxd4 Qe5+ 32 g3 Qxd4 –+) 30...Re1+ 31 Kh2 Re2 32 Qc1! (32 Qd1? Be5+ 33 Kg1 Bxd6 –+) 32...Qe5+ (32...Be5+? 33 f4 is unclear) 33 Rg3 (33 f4? Rxg2+ 34 Kxg2 Qe2+ –+) 33...Rb8. The dpawn is going nowhere and Black has a big advantage. White’s best chance of salvation lies in 34 f4!.
Puzzle 292: Black to play
How can Black gain a big advantage?
Solution 292: Black to play
Ratnesan – H.Witt
Hastings 2018/19
He needs to deprive White of the d5square by removing the pawn from c4. 22...b5! (not 22...Rdc8? 23 Bd5 with a roughly equal position) 23 Nxb5 was played in the game. Now 23...Rdc8! would have brought Black close to victory thanks to his active pieces. For example: 24 Qf3 (24 Qe3 Qxe3 25 fxe3 Bxc4 26 Na7 Rc5! and things are bad for White) 24...Bxc4 25 Na7! (25 Nc3?! Rb3 26 Ne4 Qb5 –+) 25...Rc7 26 Nc6 Rb3 with a large advantage. White’s best option is to give up an exchange by 27 Rxc4 Qxc4 28 Nxe5 –/+.
Puzzle 293: White to play
In the game White missed a chance for a big advantage here. What should he have played?
Solution 293: White to play
Vantika – Srihari
Mumbai 2018/19
23 Rd3! Black has a big problem holding on to his d4pawn, as White will be happy to give up two rooks for the queen in order to win it. Not 23 Rd2? (as chosen in the game) 23...Nfe4 24 Re2 f5 with unclear play. And after moves like 23 Rab1?! or 23 Re1?! Rfe8 White has only a small advantage. 23...Qb6!? 23...Rbd8?! 24 Rad1 b6 25 h3!? (it is useful to make some luft before taking on d4) 25...Rfe8 26 Rxd4 Qxd4 27 Rxd4 Rxd4 28 Qc6 +– gives White a decisive advantage, while after 23...Rfe8 he can choose 24 Qd1 +/– or 24 Rad1 Re4 +/–. 24 Bxc5 Qxc5 25 Qd1 b5 Or: 25...Qxc4 26 Rxd4 +/–; after 25...Qb6, 26 Rb1!? +/– is the simplest, though several moves lead to a big advantage. 26 cxb5 Qxb5 27 Rxd4 +/ with an extra pawn and good winning chances.
Puzzle 294: White to play
The game soon ended in perpetual check. Show how White could have done better.
Solution 294: White to play
Calzetta Ruiz – Schnabel
Stockholm 2018/19
The lonelylooking black king is a clue for how White should proceed: 33 Nd4! (with 33 Re8+ Kc7 34 Re7+ Kc8, as played in the game, White makes no progress) 33...Nxc1 34 Ne6 Rd8 (34...Nf6?! makes things easier for White: 35 Rc7+ Kb8 36 Rf7 +–) 35 Rc7+! (this idea is so strong that it would still win even if White first threw in the bishop on a6) 35...Kb8 36 Rb7+ Kc8 37 Rb8+! Kxb8 38 c7+ + with an easy win.
Puzzle 295: White to play
White convincingly won the game. What did he play?
Solution 295: White to play
Schekachikhin – Lyrberg
Stockholm 2018/19
16 Qe3! (after 16 Rfe1?! Be6 Black is worse, but is far better off than after the textmove) 16...Qxc4 (16...Be6 17 f3 Nc5 18 Nxe6 gives White a decisive advantage; for example, 18...fxe6 19 cxd5 and now 19...exd5 20 Qxc5 Rxf4 21 Qxd5+ +– or 19...Qc4 {as played in the game} 20 Bg5 +–) 17 Rfc1 Qb4 18 f3 Nc5 (18...g5 19 Bxg5 Nxg5 20 Qxg5+ +–) 19 Rab1 Qa5 20 Rb5 +– and Black loses a knight.
Puzzle 296: White to play
The game ended in a draw. Can White do better?
Solution 296: White to play
Mullon – Mullick
Stockholm 2018/19
27 Bxc6! (in the game 27 Rxc8? Rxc8 28 Rxe6 Bxg2 29 Kxg2 Rc2+ led to an unclear position) 27...bxc6 (27...Nxc6 28 Rxb7 +–) 28 Rcd7 (the rook is destined for d7; 28 Ra7 Ra8 29 Rad7 is similar) 28...Nd5 29 Bh6 +– and Black loses because his king is locked in. There may follow 29...Kh8 (29...Re7 30 Rxd5 +–) 30 Ra7 Re7 31 Rxc6.
Puzzle 297: Black to play
Black has problems due to his passive pieces. How should he defend?
Solution 297: Black to play
Navalgund – Czebe
Mumbai 2018/19
The white knight on c3 secures three pawns at once, whereas the black knight serves no useful role. So it makes sense to seek to exchange it off. 23...Nf6! 23...e3?! 24 f4 +/– is good for White, while in the game White won after 23...Bxc4? 24 fxe4 Ng7 (Black isn’t saved by 24...fxe4 25 Bxe4 Rxf1+ 26 Kxf1 Rb8 27 Rd7 +–) 25 exf5 Nxf5 26 Bxb7 +–. 24 fxe4 Nxe4! The only way to hold! Not 24...fxe4? 25 Rd6! Rae8 26 Rf4 +–. 25 Nxe4 Black need not fear 25 Nd5 Rad8. 25...fxe4 26 Bxe4 Bxc4 and the position is close to a draw. For example, 27 b6!? (27 Bxb7 Rab8 =) 27...Rae8 28 Rxf8+ Kxf8 29 Bxb7 Rb8.
Puzzle 298: Black to play
White is hoping to attack the king. Whether he can do so hinges on Black’s next two moves.
Solution 298: Black to play
Mohite – Laxman
Mumbai 2018/19
34...f5! 34...dxc5? 35 Bg5 Bc6 (as played in the game; 35...Qc6 36 Nf6+! Bxf6 37 Qxc6 =) 36 Qe2 gives White reasonable compensation. 36...Bb5 is met by 37 Qd2. 35 Nh6!? Or: 35 cxd6 Qxd6 –+; 35 Ne3 dxc5 –+. 35...Bd5! Rather than being an attacking piece, the knight is now trapped on h6, and Black has a large advantage. Instead 35...Bxh6? 36 cxd6 Qc6 (36...Qxd6 37 Qf7+ Bg7 38 Bc3 =) 37 Qe7+ Bg7 38 f3 gives Black no advantage because of the loose h4pawn and the possible repetition after 38...Bc8 39 Qxh4+ Kg8 40 Qd8+ =. 36 cxd6 36 c6 Qxc6 37 Qxc6 Bxc6 –/+. 36...Qxd6 37 Nxf5 gxf5 38 Qh5+ Kg8 –/+
Puzzle 299: Black to play
Black has a pleasant looking position, but to squeeze the most out of it he must play accurately.
Solution 299: Black to play
Snehal – Aaryan
Mumbai 2018/19
Black should seize the opportunity to pin down the g3knight at the cost of a mere pawn. 33...Bd6! The sluggish 33...f6? 34 Re3 = gave Black no advantage in the game, while both 33...Kg8?! 34 Rf2 =+ (or 34 Re3 =+) and 33...b3?! 34 Rxd3!? cxd3 35 Rd1 =+ yield only a slight plus. 34 Qxf7 Qxf7 35 Rxf7 Re3 –+ White will not be able to stop the cpawn because he is chained to defending the g3knight. For example: 36 Rg1 Kg8 (perhaps 36...c3!? 37 bxc3 bxc3 38 Kh4 Be7+ –+ is simpler) 37 Rd7 Bf4 38 Kh4 (38 Rd8+ Kf7 –+) 38...c3 39 bxc3 bxc3 40 Rd5 c2 41 Rc5 Rf3–+ and White’s position is completely hopeless. He has almost no moves left.
Puzzle 300: Black to play
Black’s next move in the game allowed White to escape with a draw. Find something better.
Solution 300: Black to play
R.Prajesh – Šafranska
Mumbai 2018/19
The fact that the white pieces are a long way from their king should have helped guide your decision. 36...Nh4+! (in the game, 36...Ne5? 37 Qa3 proved unclear) 37 gxh4 g4! 38 Qa3 (38 Qb3 fails due to 38...Qxh4 –+ or 38...c4 –+, while 38 e5 is met by 38...Qxh4 39 fxg4 Qf2+ –+) 38...Qxh4 (White has protected the f3pawn, but now Black comes in from the other side) 39 fxg4 (39 Be3 Qh3+ 40 Kg1 gxf3 41 Bxd4+ cxd4 –+) 39...Qf2+ 40 Kh3 Be5 –+.
Puzzle 301: White to play
White has a dangerous attack, but can he convert it into a material advantage?
Solution 301: White to play
R.Mohammad – Saptarshi (based on)
Mumbai 2018/19
White needs to drive Black’s king back so that his rook will not be protected on e6. 25 Nh8++! (both 25 Rxe4? Rxe4 26 Qd5+ Re6 and 25 Nf4+? Kf8 26 Rad1 Qf7 are unclear) 25...Kf8 (or 25...Kg8 26 Rxe4 Rxe4 27 Qd5+ Re6 28 Qxa8+ +–) 26 Rxe4 Rxe4 27 Qd5 +–. Black can’t put either rook on e8 because it would allow instant mate, and 27...Qb7 is met by 28 c6.
Puzzle 302: Black to play
Carefully calculate the options to rule out any chance of White saving himself.
Solution 302: Black to play
Thapa – Mrudul
Mumbai 2018/19
42...Qd2 43 Qb8+ 43 Qb2 Qe1+ 44 Kg2 e3, as played in the game, is hopeless for White, as 45 f3 can be met by 45...Nf6 –+ or 45...e2 –+. 43...Ng8! Black wants to open up the white king with the ...e3 advance, so avoids putting his king on h7, as this would allow White a saving Qb1+ later on. So not 43...Kh7? 44 Qb2 Qe1+ 45 Kg2 e3 (45...Nxc6 46 Qc2 =) 46 f3 (46 Qb1+!?) 46...e2 (46...Nf6 47 Qb1+ =) 47 Qxe2 Qxa1 (47...Ne3+ 48 Kh3 is unclear) 48 Qc2+ =. 44 Qb2 Qe1+ 45 Kg2 e3 Black wins by deflecting the white queen from its defence of the bishop: 46 f3 e2 (not 46...Nf2? 47 Qb1 =, but 46...N4f6!? 47 a5 Ne7 –+ also works) 47 Qxe2 (47 Nxe2 Ne3+ 48 Kh3 Qf1+ –+) 47...Qxa1–+ with an extra piece.
Puzzle 303: Black to play
Black needs to be cautious, as White’s threats are easily underestimated.
Solution 303: Black to play
Vigneshwaran – Kravtsiv
Chennai 2012
30...Qd8! Only after this move is Black OK. 30...Bh1? loses to 31 f3 +–, while after 30...Re8? (played in the game) 31 Bxf7+! Kxf7 32 Rc7+ Re7 33 Qf4+ +– White has a decisive attack. And 30...Bd5? 31 Nb5 Re7 32 Bxd5 Nxd5 (32...Qxd5 33 Rc8+ Bf8 34 Qxd5 +–) 33 Nd6! gives Black a difficult position because of the weakness of his back rank: 33...Nc7 34 Bxg7 Kxg7 35 Rc5 +/–. 31 Nb3 Qxd2 32 Nxd2 Rf5 33 Bxg7 Kxg7 with an equal position.
Puzzle 304: Black to play
White has just taken a pawn on e5. What should Black do?
Solution 304: Black to play
Zhang Xiao – Maisuradze
Tianjin 2018/19
Black wins with a beautiful sequence: 39...Rxe5! (39...Qf5? 40 Bg3 +/– was played in the game) 40 Nf6+ gxf6! (rather than modestly moving his king, Black sacrifices his queen; after 40...Kf7? 41 Qxg6+ Kxg6 42 Nxd7 Rxg5+ Black is merely hanging on) 41 Qxg6+ Rg7 42 Qxf6 Rexg5+ –+. The only way to avoid mate is to give up the queen on g5.
Puzzle 305: Black to play
Black appears to have problems. Can he hold the position?
Solution 305: Black to play
Ornstein – S.Asaka
Stockholm 2018/19
Black can only survive thanks to a tactical trick. 34...Bd5! Not: a) The game ended 34...Kf8? 35 Rxb7 10 in view of 35...Rxb7 36 Qa8+ +–. b) 34...Kg7? 35 Qa1 Qxa1 36 Raxa1 +/– and the central pawns will soon advance. c) After 34...Qd7? 35 d4 +/– Black is unlikely to achieve a draw. 35 exd5 Rxf2! 36 Qxf2 36 Ra8+ changes nothing: 36...Kg7! 37 Ra7+ Kg8. 36...Be3 37 Ra2 37 Rf1 Bxf2+ 38 Rxf2 and now both 38...Qxd3 = and 38...Qxb4!? = are OK. 37...Bxf2+ 38 Rxf2 Qxb4 White can’t hold the d5pawn. Because the white king is exposed to checks, the queen is not inferior to the rooks and the game is close to equal.
Puzzle 306: Black to play
Black’s position looks unpleasant. Does he have a way to solve his problems?
Solution 306: Black to play
Snehal – Nepal
Mumbai 2018/19
First of all, he needs to get out of the pin. 29...Rde8! Other moves offer very little hope: 29...g6? loses to 30 e5 Qe7 31 Qd2 +–, while 29...Nf8?! 30 e5 +/– is dismal. In the game, 29...b6? put up no resistance. 30 Rxd7 30 Nc4!? Rxe4 31 Rd2 offers White compensation, but he should certainly avoid 30 e5?! Nxe5 –/+ 31 fxe5?! (31 Qc3!) 31...Rxe5 –+. 30...Rxe4 31 Re1 Rxe3 32 Rxe3 Rxe3 33 Rxb7 Black is fully in the game. He can play 33...g6 since then 34 Rxa7? fails to 34...Qd4 –+.
Puzzle 307: Black to play
How can Black develop his initiative?
Solution 307: Black to play
Shetye – Kravtsiv
New Delhi 2012
31...h5! Black will push his hpawn and attack on the kingside. Less good is 31...Rxf3?! 32 gxf3 Rxf3 33 Re3 Qh6 34 Nf1 Qg5+, with unclear play. 32 Nf1 Or: a) 32 cxb5 h4 33 Nf1 h3 –/+. b) 32 Bc2 h4 33 Nf1 h3 –+ was played in the game. c) 32 Be2 h4 33 Nf1 (slightly better is 33 Nh1 g5 34 Rf1 bxc4 –/+) 33...g5 34 cxb5 (34 Nh2!? g4 –/+) 34...g4 35 fxg4 axb5 with a decisive advantage. 32...h4 33 Nh2 33 Be2 g5 –/+. 33...h3 34 gxh3 Rf4 35 Bf1 Qh6 –/+ Black’s advantage is large, and close to decisive.
Puzzle 308: Black to play
White has just played 25 Ne5g6. How should Black react?
Solution 308: Black to play
J.Williams – T.Kung
Burlingame 2019
Black needs to exchange as many pieces as possible, since then White will have nothing left to attack the queenside pawns with. 25...Rxd2! 25...Rexe4? 26 Nxf8 +– was played in the game. After 25...Qd8? 26 Nxe7+ Bxe7 27 Re2 +– White will not allow an exchange of rooks: 27...Bb4 28 Bxb4 Rxb4 29 g3 +–. 26 Nxe7+ Bxe7 Not 26...Qxe7? 27 Qxd2 Bb4 28 Bh7+ +–. 27 Qxd2 Bb4 28 Qd1 Bxe1 29 Qxe1 g6 with unclear play. The bishop will not reach c8, and the queen working on its own will not be able to win the b7pawn.
Puzzle 309: Black to play
Black can easily keep a small plus here, but you should be hunting much bigger game than that!
Solution 309: Black to play
Polgar-Shutzman – J.Wang
Burlingame 2019
24...Bd7 25 Qf4 Qe7! Now Black wins this bishop without losing much in return. After 25...Bd6?! (as played in the game) 26 Qxe5 Bxe5 27 Be3 Bxa1 28 Rxa1 White should survive if he plays well. 25...Qe6?! 26 Bg5 f6 27 Bh4 also gives Black a much smaller advantage than he could have had. 26 Bg5 26 Qg5 Qd6 –+. 26...f6 27 Bh4 27 Nxe4 fxg5 28 Nxg5 Qf6 –+. 27...g5 –+
Puzzle 310: Black to play
Black can’t castle any more. How does he defend himself?
Solution 310: Black to play
M.Hasan – Snehal
Mumbai 2018/19
Black must preserve his lightsquared bishop, as without it his king would be too weak. 27...Bd7! After 27...Kd7? 28 Nxc6 Kxc6 (the game featured 28...Qxe3+? 29 Kxe3 Bc5+ 30 Qd4 +–) 29 Qd4 it may not be immediately obvious, but the king’s position on c6 will prove close to hopeless. 28 Qg8 28 Bxd5?! Rd8 29 Qg8 Qg7 even leaves Black for preference. 28...Rc8 28...Rd8!?. 29 Qxd5 Qd6 30 Qf7+ Kd8 31 Qxh7 Kc7 += White is a little better, but Black should not expect any major problems holding the position.
Puzzle 311: White to play
Should White take the knight on f4?
Solution 311: White to play
Gajek – Gukesh
Mumbai 2018/19
34 Rxf4?? This fatally opens lines against the white king. After 34 Re3!?, for instance, White is no worse. 34...Rxc3! –+ With the knight removed from c3 and the long diagonal open, the white king is much too weak. 35 Rg4 After 35 Rf8+ (as played in the game) 35...Kxf8 36 Kxc3 Rf7 –+ the rook goes to f4, while 35 Rff2 Rac7! gives Black a decisive attack: 36 Rg2 (36 Ne1 Rc1 –+) 36...Rxb3+ 37 Kxb3 Qb1+ –+. 35...Rxc2+! 36 Kxc2 Ra2+ 762 with an easy win: 37 Kd3 Qf1+ 38 Qe2 Qh3+ –+.
Puzzle 312: White to play
White is attacking, but must continue accurately to win.
Solution 312: White to play
Naroditsky – Saidy
Burlingame 2019
Using tempogaining checks and threats, White creeps up on the black king. 53 Qf2+ Kb8 Or: a) The game concluded 53...Ka6 54 Qa2+ Kb6 55 Qa5+ Kc6 56 Qc5+ Kd7 57 Rf7+ 10. b) 53...Qd4 54 Qa2+ Kb6 55 Rd5!? (not 55 Qa5+? Kc6, with unclear play, though only slightly weaker is 55 Qe6+ Ka7 56 Ra5+ Kb8 57 Rd5 +–) 55...b3 (55...Qe3 56 Qa5+ Kc6 57 Qb5+ Kc7 58 Rd7+ +–) 56 Qxb3+ Qb4 57 Qc2 with a decisive advantage for White. 54 Qc5! White locks the black king in a box so he has nowhere to run. Not 54 Rf8+? Kc7 55 Qc5+ Qc6 +=. 54...Qc6 Or: 54...Bf6 55 Qd6+ +–; 54...Qb1+ 55 Kh2 +–. 55 Qf8+ Ka7 56 Ra5+ Kb6 57 Qd8+ Qc7 58 Rb5+ +
Puzzle 313: Black to play
Black has a beautiful path to victory. Can you find it?
Solution 313: Black to play
Hawkins – Lalić (variation)
Hastings 2018/19
28...Re2!! Not 28...Rd2?, as White then defends with 29 Qxd2 Qxf4+ 30 Kh3 Be5 31 Qe1 +–. However, seeing this line may suggest what Black should play. 29 Rae1 29 Nd5 Bxa1 –+. 29...Rd2! Now that the white rook has occupied e1, White lacks the defence against mate that we saw in the 28...Rd2? line. 30 Qxd2 Qxf4+ 31 Kh3 Be5 766 White is mated in a few moves: 32 Nf1 Qf5+ 33 g4 Qf3+ 34 Ng3 Qxg3#.
Puzzle 314: White to play
Bear in mind that even if he has to give up his rook for the hpawn, Black may be able to hang on thanks to his passed apawn.
Solution 314: White to play
Z.Li – Dragun
Burlingame 2019
With pawns racing to promote on both sides and a material imbalance likely, every tempo is worth its weight in gold. 54 Kf6! Not 54 h7? Ne5! 55 Bxe5 Rxh7 =. This explains why White needs to be so precise. 54...a3 55 h7 Rd8 56 Rg1 Or: a) 56 Kf7? Kb5 57 Rg1 Ka4 (57...Ra8!? = was played in the game) 58 Bf8 Ne5+ 59 Kg7 Rd7+ =. b) 56 Ke6 Kb5 and now 57 Bf6? Re8+ 58 Kd7 Ra8 = is a draw, so White should play 57 Rg1, transposing to the 56 Rg1 line. 56...Kb5 57 Ke6! Gaining an important tempo because if Black moves his king to a4, he will leave the c4knight unprotected. Not 57 h8Q? Rxh8 58 Bxh8 Ka4 59 Ke6 Kb3, when White fails to win by one tempo: 60 Kd5 (60 Re1 Nb2 =) 60...Ne3+ 61 Kc6 (61 Ke4 Nc2 =) 61...c4 =. 57...Re8+ 57...Ka4 58 Bf6 Re8+ (58...Ra8 59 Rg8 +–) 59 Kd5 Kb3 60 Rg8 +–; 57...Ra8 58 Bf6 Re8+ (58...a2 59 Ra1 +–) 59 Kd7 Ra8 60 h8Q transposes to the 57...Re8+ line. 58 Kd7 Ra8 59 h8Q Rxh8 60 Bxh8 Now White’s king is closer to the pawns, and this is enough to win. 60...Ka4 61 Kc6 a2 61...Kb3 62 Re1! a2 63 Kd5 +–. 62 Re1! Kb3 63 Kd5 Na3 63...Ne3+ 64 Rxe3 +–. 64 c4 +
Puzzle 315: White to play
To keep winning chances, White needs the right plan and to implement it precisely.
Solution 315: White to play
Kishor – Laoussing (variation)
Mumbai 2018/19
32 Nb3!? 32 Kh5?! is imprecise because of 32...Nc4 33 Nb3 Kg7 34 Nd4 a6! 35 Nf5+ Kf6 36 Nxh6 (36 Kxh6 Nxa3 37 Nxd6 Nc2 =) 36...Nxa3, when White’s advantage is insufficient to win. 32...Nc4 33 Nd4 White makes sure to play this at a point when the reply with ...a6 doesn’t help Black. 33 Kh5?! Kg7 transposes to the 32 Kh5?! line. 33...Nxa3 33...a6? 34 Nf5 Nxa3 35 Nxd6 Nc2 36 Kg4 Nxb4 37 Kxf4 +–. 34 Kh5 34 Nf5?! Nc4 is unclear. 34...Kh7 Not: 34...Kg7? 35 Nf5+ Kf6 36 Nxd6 +–; 34...Nc4? 35 Kxh6 Kf7 36 Kg5 +–. 35 e5! White has an obvious advantage, though Black can still fight. 35...Nc4 36 e6 Ne3 36...Kg7? 37 Nxb5 +–. 37 Nxb5 37 e7?! Nxd5 =. 37...Nxd5 38 Nxa7 Nxb4! After 38...Kg7? 39 Nc6! Kf6 40 e7 Nxe7 41 Nxe7 Kxe7 42 Kxh6 White wins thanks to the outside passed bpawn. 39 e7 Nd5! 40 e8N! The last few moves have been forced. The game now moves into an ending with two knights vs one that with very precise play Black should hold. According to the engines, White can do no better than reach a 2N vs P position where the black pawn has crossed the Troitsky Line (details of which can be found in any good general endgame guide). Clearly White has excellent practical chances though.
Puzzle 316: White to play
White has a strong pawn on b6, but it is not so easy to make use of it.
Solution 316: White to play
Kravtsiv – R.Castellanos
Livigno 2012
The first task is to limit Black’s ability to check the white king. 40 Ka3! Not: a) 40 a3? Ke5 41 b7 Kd6 is unclear. b) 40 Ra6? (played in the game) 40...Nd4+ 41 Ka3 (41 Kb2 Ke5 =) 41...Nb5+ 42 Kb2 Rb4+ 43 Kc2 Nd4+!? 44 Kc3 Nc6 = and the b pawn can’t advance. 45 b7 is met by 45...d4+ 46 Kc2 Nb8. 40...Nd4 Or: a) 40...Ke5 41 Rd7! +– and with the enemy king cut off, the bpawn can advance. b) 40...d4 is answered with 41 Rxh7 +– or 41 Rd7 +–. 41 Ra5! Thanks to his precise play, White has brought his rook to a5. He is now winning, as the following variations show: 41...Nc2+ 42 Kb2 Nd4 43 a3 Nc6 44 Ra8 d4 45 Rc8!? (probably the shortest path to victory; 45 Kb3 Rc1 46 Nb2 +–) 45...d3 (45...Rxa4 46 Rxc6 +–) 46 Nc3 d2 47 Nd1 Rc1 48 Ne3 and Black can resign. 48...Re1 is useless in view of 49 Rxc6 Rxe3 50 Rd6 +–.
Puzzle 317: White to play
White has played the opening carelessly. How does he now avoid serious trouble?
Solution 317: White to play
Babikov – Koykka
Stockholm 2018/19
19 Bd3! The game featured 19 Ne2? f6 (19...Rac8!? –/+) 20 exf6?! (20 Nf4! Rae8 21 Bd3 maintains some chance of survival) 20...Rxf6 21 Qg3, when Black could have played the fairly simple 21...Qxg3 22 Nxg3 Rc8 –+. 19...Bxd3 19...d4 20 Bxh7+ Kxh7 21 Qe4+ Kg8 22 Rxd4 is unclear. 20 Rxd3 d4 21 Nh5! Suddenly, White launches an attack, although it does not lead to anything more than equality. 21...dxc3 21...Kh8 22 Qg4 Rg8 23 Rxd4 is unclear. 22 Qg3 cxb2++ 23 Kb1 23 Kxb2? is met by 23...f5 and after 24 Nf6+ Kh8 25 Rd7 Bd4+ –+ Black’s attack takes priority thanks to this being check. 23...g6 23...f5 24 Nf6+ (24 exf6!?) 24...Rxf6 25 exf6 and with an extra exchange White is no worse. 24 Nf6+ Kg7 24...Kh8? 25 Rd7 (25 Qf4 +–) 25...Qc4 26 Qxg6 +–. 25 Nh5+ Kh7 25...Kh8?! 26 Qf4 f5 (only move) 27 Nf6 Rxf6 28 Qxh6+ +=. 26 Nf6+ Kg7 = with a repetition of moves.
Puzzle 318: Black to play
Several pieces are under attack. Can Black escape?
Solution 318: Black to play
Jimenez Martinez – Vitenberg
Stockholm 2018/19
Black needs to appreciate that the f2bishop is much more valuable than the one on d7, and it must be preserved. 20...Qa7! After 20...Qc5? (played in the game) 21 Qf4! (not 21 Qxd7? Bg1 –+) Black will have big problems without his darksquared bishop: 21...Bc6 (21...b4 22 Rxd7 bxc3 23 bxc3!? +–) 22 Qxf2 +–. 21 Qxd7 Qc5! 21...Qxd7? 22 Rxd7 Bc5 23 Bxc4 (or 23 e5!? f5 24 Bf3 +–) 23...bxc4 24 Na4 +–. 22 Qd6 22 Qd2!? Bg1 23 Qf4 Ng6 24 Qg3 Kh7 gives Black compensation for the piece thanks to his gfile play. 22...Qxd6 23 Rxd6 Bc5 24 e5!? After 24 Rd7 Nc6 Black has gained a vital tempo compared to the 21...Qxd7? line. 24...fxe5 25 Rd7 Rad8 += White is still better, but Black should be able to hold on. Note that 25...Nc6? is not good in view of 26 Bf3.
Puzzle 319: White to play
White is a pawn up, but very precise play is needed if he is to preserve chances of victory.
Solution 319: White to play
Mazé – R.Raja
Stockholm 2018/19
Putting the queen on e5 is extremely tempting, but wrong. 34 Qc3! After 34 Qe5? Qxb2 35 Qxf5+ Kh8 White’s extra pawn is not so useful as his king can’t easily shelter from the checks. Then 36 Qxd5 Qc1+ 37 Kh2 Qf4+ 38 g3 Qxf2+ 39 Qg2 Qxd4 40 Qxb7 was played in the game, and White shouldn’t have been able to make progress with so little cover for his king. 34 Qa1?! Qd2 (or 34...f4!?) 35 b3 f4 gives Black compensation because the white queen is too passive. 34...Qb1+ After 34...Qe2 35 a3 White will gradually realize his advantage. 35...Qd1+ 36 Kh2 Qe2 doesn’t help due to 37 f3 +–. 35 Kh2 Qxa2 36 Qc2 Next White will take the f5pawn, with good chances to win. 36...Qc4 36...Kh8? 37 Qc8+ Kh7 38 Qxf5+ +–. 37 Qxf5+ +/
Puzzle 320: White to play
With White two pawns up, you shouldn’t settle for a small advantage.
Solution 320: White to play
D.Graham – J.Boswell
Hastings 2018/19
White should transfer his queen to g5, but needs to find the right moveorder. 22 Qd2! Mistaken is 22 Bd4?! Bxd4! (22...exd3? 23 Qd2 +–) 23 cxd4 Ng7! (not 23...exd3? 24 Qd2 +–), when White has only a small advantage. Also after 22 c4?! Qxd3 (22...exd3!?) 23 Qxd3 exd3 24 gxh5 Nxc4 Black can resist. 22...Nxg7 22...e3 23 Nxe3 Qg5 (23...Bxe3 24 Bh7+ +–) 24 Bd4 +–. 23 Qg5 Qe5 24 Bxe4! White must deny Black the chance to bring his queen to f6. Not 24 Rae1? (as played in the game) 24...Re6 25 Rxe4 Qf6 =+. 24...Re6 24...Rad8 25 Rae1 +–. 25 Bd5! Qf6 26 Qxg7+ Qxg7 27 Nxg7 + with an easy win.
Puzzle 321: White to play
How should White develop an initiative?
Solution 321: White to play
Stabulnieks – Babikov
Stockholm 2018/19
Sometimes active pieces are far more important than pawns. 25 Na4! After 25 Ng5? (as played in the game) Black could have played 25...Bxc3! 26 Bxc3 Qb7, when thanks to the threat of ...Nb5 he is no worse; e.g., 27 Qc4 Nb5 (27...Qb5!? 28 Qd4 f6 is unclear) 28 Ra2 Nxc3 29 Qxc3 Qb3 (29...h6!? is also unclear) 30 Qxb3 Nxb3 31 a6 Ra7 =. 25...Qxe4 26 Nb6 Re8 26...Ra7 27 Re3 +–. 27 Re3 Qf5 28 Qc4! Black has won back his pawn, but now has two problems – the weak e7pawn and White’s now mobile passed apawn. His position is close to lost. 28...Bh6!? After 28...e5?! 29 Bb4 N7a6 30 Bxc5 Nxc5 31 a6 +– or 28...N7a6 29 Bb4 Nxb4 30 Qxb4 +– the apawn is too strong. 29 Nd4 Qg4 30 f3 Qh5 31 f4 +/
Puzzle 322: White to play
White is a pawn down. Does he have a way to improve his position? (It is still legal for White to castle.)
Solution 322: White to play
D’Costa – Hillarp Persson
Stockholm 2018/19
33 g4!! After 33 00?! Rd4 –/+ White lacks any real compensation for his pawn. The game proceeded 33 Rxh5? Qf6! (33...gxh5? 34 Qxh5+ Kg7 35 cxd5 =) 34 Rh7+ Kg8 35 Qa2 Kxh7 and Black won easily: 36 cxd5 Rc1+ 37 Ke2 Qd4 38 Qd2 Qc5 01. 33...fxg4 33...Qf6 34 00 leaves the game unclear after 34...Re5 35 gxf5 or 34...Rd4 35 gxf5 Qxf5 36 f3. 34 Qxg4! White has managed to exploit the position of the rook on d5. 34...hxg4 35 Rh7+ Kf6 36 Rxe7 Kxe7 37 cxd5 with a roughly equal position.
Puzzle 323: White to play
It seems the rook needs to move away. But to where?
Solution 323: White to play
Nesterov – E.Mikalsen
Stockholm 2018/19
To break through to the black king, White needs to remove the pawn from d5. 33 Rf4! White takes aim at the e4knight and prepares c4. After 33 Rf1? Rg8 (played in the game), 34 c4 is not scary since Black can reply 34...dxc4. White also gets nothing from 33 Rh5? Rg8 (33...Qa7+!?) 34 Rh6+ Rg6 =. 33...Qc6 Or: a) 33...Ra8 34 c4 Qa1+ 35 Kg2 Ra2+ 36 Kh3 +–. b) 33...f5 34 exf6 Nxf6 35 Rxf6+ Kxf6 36 Qd4+ +–. c) Following 33...Rg8 34 c4 (34 Qxe4?? Qa1+ –+) 34...Qa1+ 35 Kg2 Qa2+ (35...Qxe5 36 cxd5+ Kxd5 37 Qc4+ +–) 36 Kh3 +– the king evades the checks and White wins. 34 Qd4! Again threatening c4, to which Black has no good reply. Not the immediate 34 c4? in view of 34...dxc4. 34...Rb8 34...Qxc2 35 Qb6+ Ke7 36 Qb7+ +–. 35 c4 Rxb3 36 cxd5+ Qxd5 37 Rxe4 + with an easy win.
Puzzle 324: White to play
Carefully calculate the options and assess the position.
Solution 324: White to play
D.O’Connor – V.Karthik
Burlingame 2019
40 Bg6+! In the game, White played 40 Qxd2??, which is equivalent to resignation. 40...Qxg6!? This move makes White’s path to victory the most complicated. After 40...Kxg6 41 Qxg7+ Kh5 42 Qf7+ White wins easily: 42...Qg6 43 g4+ (43 Qxg6+!? Kxg6 44 Rxc7 +–) 43...fxg4 44 Rc5+ +–. 41 Qxd2 Qg3 42 Rxc7 Qxc7 Black has won back the exchange, but White continues his attack. 43 Qb2! Qg3 43...Ng6 44 Rxf5 +–. 44 Rf3 Qg5 45 Qe5 Now it is clear that Black has major problems. In fact, his position is hopeless: 45...Rb7 (45...Ra8 46 Kh2 +–) 46 Rg3 Ng6 47 Qd6 Qc1+ 48 Kh2 +–.
Puzzle 325: White to play
White obviously has some advantage. Your task is to squeeze the most out of the position that you can.
Solution 325: White to play
A.Byron – Comellas
Hastings 2018/19
A knight on f5 is likely to prove strong enough to justify a piece sacrifice. 39 Bh5!! After 39 gxf6?! Rxf6 += (as played in the game) White has squandered most of his advantage. The same goes for 39 Bg4?! fxg5 +=. 39...gxh5 Or: a) 39...fxg5 40 Bxg6 +–. b) 39...Nxe4 40 Nxe4 gxh5 41 Ng3 fxg5 42 Nf5 Qe8 43 Bxg5 +–. c) 39...Qe8 40 Nf5! Nxe4 41 Qd1 and now 41...gxh5 42 g6! transposes to the main line. No better is 41...Kh7?! (41...fxg5 42 Bxg6 +–) 42 Nh4 gxh5 43 g6+ +–. 40 Nf5 Qe8 41 g6 Now Black’s only way to prolong the resistance is to give up the knight on g3. 41...Nxe4 41...Kh8 42 Bh6 +–. 42 Qd1 Ng3 43 Nxg3 Qxg6 44 Nf5 + Black has returned the piece to avoid being mated, but his position is hopeless. White can win in several ways: 44...Rf7 (44...Qg4 can be met by 45 Qc2 +– or 45 Qe1) 45 Bc1 Qg4 46 Qc2 (or 46 Qe1!? +–) 46...Qb4 47 Qe2 +–.
Puzzle 326: White to play
White has a way to survive, but it is very far from simple.
Solution 326: White to play
A.Hong – Stukopin
Burlingame 2019
White has several possibilities that appear to offer some hope, but only one of them actually enables him to escape. 58 Nd8! Rather than 58 Qd6? b3+! 59 Kxb3 Rb7+ (played in the game) 60 Ka2 Qf7 –+ or 58 Nf4? Qg4 59 Qd6+ Kg5 60 Ne6+ Kh5 –+. 58...Ke7 58...bxc3 59 Qd4+!? (59 Qxa5?! Rd7 60 Qxc3+ Ke7 –/+) 59...Ke7 60 Nxf7 Qxf7+ 61 b3 =. 59 Nc6+! White must avoid a queenswap before picking up the exchange. Not 59 Nxf7? Qxf7 –+. 59...Kf8 60 Ne5 Qf5 61 Qa8+ Now that the queen has left d5, it is safe to take on f7: 61...Kg7 62 Qg2+ = (or 62 Nxf7 =).
Puzzle 327: White to play
With the right moves White can win, so finding a small advantage is not enough.
Solution 327: White to play
Saksham – Prraneeth
Mumbai 2018/19
White wins thanks to a beautiful sacrifice. 22 Rxf6! In the game White missed his chance, with 22 Rda6? granting him very little advantage. 22...Bc5 23 Qxc5! The inaccurate 23 Qf3?! Bxa7 24 Nb4 +/– leaves White better, but far from clearly winning. 23...Rxc5 23...Qxc5 24 Rfxf7 +–. 24 Ne3 Black loses the f7pawn, after which his position is hopeless: 24...Qxe4 (24...Qb3 25 Ra3 +–) 25 Rfxf7 Qb1 26 Kh2 (26 Rg7+!? +–) 26...Qxc1 27 Ng4 with irresistible threats; e.g., 27...Rc6 (27...Qf4+ 28 Rxf4 exf4 29 Nf6+ +–) 28 Rg7+ Kh8 (28...Kf8 29 Raf7+ Ke8 30 Nxe5 +–) 29 Rxh7+ Kg8 30 Nh6+ +–.
Puzzle 328: Black to play
Black’s position looks hopeless, but he can be saved.
Solution 328: Black to play
Nagarajan – A.Grabinsky
Burlingame 2019
41...Bc3! In the game Black went astray, playing instead 41...h5?. 42 Qxb6 e5 Black activates his queen and, thanks to the bad knight on b3, is no worse! 43 Qa6 Or: a) 43 Qc6 Qf5 44 e4 Qf3 45 Qxd6 Qxe4 46 Qd1 Qxc4 is unclear. b) 43 Nc1 Qf5 44 Qxd6 Qc2 45 Nd3 Qd1+ 46 Kg2 e4 47 b6 Qf3+! = (not 47...Qxd3?! 48 c5 +/–) with perpetual check. 43...Qg4 44 Qa2 Qd1+!? Or 44...Qxc4 45 Qc2 Qb4! 46 Nc1 Ba1! with unclear play. 45 Kg2 g5 This is not the only move, but is probably the simplest option. 46 b6 46 h3 h5 is unclear. 46...g4 47 Qa8 h5 and White can’t strengthen his position: 48 b7 (48 Nc1 can be met by 48...Be1!? = or 48...Bd2 49 Nd3 Bxe3 =) 48...Qf3+ 49 Kf1 Qd1+ = with perpetual check.
Puzzle 329: Black to play
Black is a piece up. Can he parry the threats and win?
Solution 329: Black to play
Mont Reynaud – Y.Liou (variation)
Burlingame 2019
38...h6! (not 38...h5? 39 gxh5 Rg4 40 hxg6 with unclear play) 39 Rxg6 Qd3! (Black takes control of the b1h7 diagonal so that White will not be able to deliver perpetual check; not 39...Rxg4? 40 e6! {40 Qf8+? is premature: 40...Kh7 41 Rxg7+ Rdxg7 42 Qf5+ R4g6 43 h5 Bc8! –+} 40...Rc7 41 Qf8+ Kh7 42 Rxg7+ Rcxg7 {42...Rgxg7 43 Qf5+ Rg6 44 h5 =} 43 Qf5+ R4g6 44 h5 Qd4+ 45 Rf2 with a roughly equal position) 40 e6 (40 Qf5 Rc7! 41 h5 {41 e6 Kh8 –+} 41...Bc8 +) 40...Rc7 (40...Re7? 41 Qf8+ is unclear) 41 h5 Kh7! (the only winning move; after 41...Kh8? White survives against all the odds by 42 g5! Rg4 {42...hxg5 43 Rxg7! Rxg7 44 h6! should also end in a draw} 43 Rxg7! Rxg7 44 Qf8+ Kh7 {44...Rg8 45 Qf6+} 45 g6+ R4xg6 46 hxg6+ Qxg6 47 Qf5, with a drawable ending) 42 Qf5 (here 42 g5 hxg5 43 Rxg7+ Rxg7 is no problem for Black) 42...Kh8! and now White is defenceless.
Puzzle 330: White to play
White has a promising position. How should he continue the attack?
Solution 330: White to play
I.Ke – Hevia
Burlingame 2019
Distracting the queen from its defence of f7 will allow White to strike. 23 d6! Better than 23 Rbf1?! Rf8 += or the premature 23 Rxf7+?! Qxf7 24 Qxc5 Rf8, with unclear play. 23...Qe6 23...Qxd6 24 Rxf7+ Kxf7 25 Qxh6 +–. 24 Rxf7+! After 24 Rf2?! Rc8 Black has good chances to resist. 24...Qxf7 We have reached a critical position. White’s next move decides the outcome of the game. 25 Qxc5! After 25 Qxe5+? (as played in the game) 25...Qf6 26 Qxc5 Rh5! Black succeeds in bringing his rook into play, making the game unclear; e.g., 27 Rxb7+ Kh8 with counterplay. 25...Rh5 Or: a) 25...Re8 26 Be4 +–. b) 25...b6 26 Qxe5+ Qf6 27 Qe3 gives White a vital extra tempo in comparison with the 25 Qxe5+? line: 27...Rh5 28 Rxb6 +–. 26 Be4 White has a decisive advantage: 26...Qf4 (26...Rb8 27 Bd5 +–) 27 Bxb7 Rf8 28 d7 +–.
Puzzle 331: White to play
It is easy for White to give perpetual check, but how can he achieve more than that?
Solution 331: White to play
Kravtsiv – Atabayev (variation)
Dubai 2012
Before playing for mate, White must tend to the safety of his own king. 24 g3! Not 24 h3? Qe3+ 25 Kh1 Qxe5, when Black will be able to give perpetual check: 26 Qe8+ Kh7 27 Rf8 Qe1+ 28 Kh2 Qe5+ =. 24...Qe3+ Or: 24...Rb8 25 Qe8+ (25 Rf4!? +–) 25...Kh7 26 Rf8 +–; 24...Bd7 25 Qf7+ Kh8 26 g6 Rg8 27 Rf4 Qe3+ 28 Kg2 Qe2+ 29 Kh3 +–. 25 Kg2 Qxe5 26 Rf4! Black now has no checks and can’t defend against White’s threats either. After 26 Qe8+ Kh7 White has nothing better than retracing his steps since 27 Rf4? allows 27...Qe2+ =. 26...Qxf4 27 gxf4 +
7: Tough Choices
Here is our second selection of positions where you are asked to choose between two moves. But these 33 puzzles are, like the previous chapter, all level 4 or 5! At least try to make an educated guess, and remember that if you can eliminate one of the moves, that is enough to help you choose the other one, even if it looks like a risky step into the unknown. In complex positions, you sometimes just have to ‘go with the flow’, avoiding pitfalls as best you can.
Puzzle 332: White to play
Choose between 56 Kh3 and 56 Kh4.
Solution 332: White to play
M.Popov – Wu Huanghui
Tianjin 2018/19
It is important to keep control of h2 so that the bishop isn’t tied down to the c2square. 56 Kh3! The ‘active’ 56 Kh4? is wrong because of 56...Nxc5 57 Rxc5 Kd6 58 Rd5+ (58 Rc4 Ke5 –+) 58...Kc6 with a decisive advantage. There may follow 59 Rd2 Rg1 60 e5 Rb8 61 Rd6+ Kc5 –+ (as played in the game). 56...Nxc5 57 Rxc5 Kd6 58 Rd5+ Ke7 59 Re5+! 837 White needs the black king to be on a light square. Not 59 Bd3? Rbg2 –+. 59...Kd6 60 Rd5+ Ke6 Or 60...Kc6 61 Bd3 (with the king on h4, this would allow mate in one) 61...Rbg2 62 Bb5+ Kb6 63 a5+! =. 61 Rc5 Rg1 62 Bd3 and the game should end in a draw.
Puzzle 333: Black to play
Choose between 36...Rxc8 and 36...Rxa2.
Solution 333: Black to play
Seo Jung – Dhulipalla
Stockholm 2018/19
Oppositecoloured bishops have a stronger drawing tendency the fewer other pieces are on the board with them. So to retain winning chances, Black should only allow the exchange of one set of rooks. 36...Rxc8! 36...Rxa2? 37 Rxe8+ Qxe8 38 Qxa2 Qe1 (38...Bd6 39 Qxf2 Qxa4 is not enough for Black to win) 39 Qe2 (thus far as played in the game) 39...Bd6 40 g4! and White holds the position. 37 Qxc8+ Rd8 With a pair of rooks left too, the extra pawn proves decisive: 38 Qc4 Bc5 39 Re2 Qg5 –+.
Puzzle 334: White to play
Choose between 52 Kg4 and 52 Kg2.
Solution 334: White to play
Peng Xiongjian – Maisuradze
Tianjin 2018/19
Usually you’d want to keep the king close to the pawns, but here it is more important to prevent rook checks from behind. 52 Kg2! 52 Kg4? Rd1 53 c5 (53 g6 d3! is equal because after 54 g7 Rg1+ White can’t play 55 Bg3? since 55...d2! 56 g8Q d1Q+ promotes with check and the white king will be mated) and now only 53...d3! enables Black to survive: a) 54 cxd6 Bd8 does not offer White winning chances because of his badlyplaced rook on a6. For example: 55 g6 (55 Kf5 Rf1! 56 Ra7+ Kc6 57 Rc7+ Bxc7 58 dxc7 Kd7 is unclear; 55 Ra7+ Ke6 56 Ra8 Rg1+ 57 Kh5 Bxg5!? = was played in the game) 55...d2 56 Bxd2 Rxd2 57 g7 Rg2+ 58 Kf3 Rg1 with a drawn position. b) After the trickier 54 c6+!? Ke6 55 Ra7 Rg1+ 56 Kh3 (56 Kh5 Rf1! =) 56...Rh1+ 57 Kg2 Rh7 Black can also resist. 52...Rb3 52...Rd1 53 g6 d3 54 g7 d2 55 g8Q Rg1+ 56 Kxg1 d1Q+ 57 Kh2 + and the king easily escapes the checks. 53 c5 After 53 g6 Rb8 White needs to play precisely to preserve the win, but 53 Ra7!? +– is also a good option. 53...d3 54 Kf3 d2+ 55 Ke2 + with a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 335: Black to play
Choose between 25...Nd8 and 25...Qd6.
Solution 335: Black to play
Kravtsiv – A.L’Ami
Roosendaal 2012
25...Qd6! Retreating the knight with 25...Nd8? is wrong because it weakens the defence of the king and the e7bishop in particular, allowing 26 Rxg7! Rh1+ (26...Nxb7 27 Qxe6 +–) 27 Kf2 Nxb7 28 Qxe6, when the exposed black king proves fatal: 28...Kd8 29 Bxf5 Rc7 30 Qxd5+ (in the game Black resigned here) 30...Nd6 31 Rg8+ +–. 26 Rxg7 Rb8 with an unclear position.
Puzzle 336: White to play
Choose between 35 Ra8+ and 35 Ra7.
Solution 336: White to play
Kravtsiv – R.Castellanos
Livigno 2012
White shouldn’t let the black king escape from its back rank. 35 Ra7! After 35 Ra8+? Kf7 36 Ra7 (as played in the game) 36...Rxa4! (36...Ke8? 37 Rxd7 Rxa4 38 Rxh7 +–) 37 Rxd7+ Kf6 the king has become active and the black rook can deal with the bpawn: 38 b6 Rxa2 39 Kc3 Ra6 40 b7 Rb6 =. 35...Ne5+ Now 35...Rxa4 36 Rxd7 +– is a different matter entirely since a check on the eighth rank will speed the pawn towards promotion: 36...Rb4 37 a4 Rxa4 38 b6 Rb4 39 b7 +–. 36 Kc3! d4+ 37 Kd2 d3 38 Nc3!? Slightly weaker is 38 b6 Re2+. 843 38...Rd4 38...Rb4 39 a4 gives White a decisive advantage. Black then gains nothing from 39...Rb2+ 40 Ke3 +–. 39 Ra4 39 Rc7!? +–. 39...Nc4+ 40 Rxc4 Rxc4 41 a4 + White’s pawns are unstoppable.
Puzzle 337: Black to play
Choose between 38...Qc8 and 38...Kf7.
Solution 337: Black to play
Sandu – Ramondino
Stockholm 2018/19
Black is close to being in zugzwang, and must be careful not to allow White’s main active ideas, Rh5 to break into the kingside, or d4 smashing through the centre. In fact, he can only safely move his king here. 38...Kf7 38...Ke8 is the only other playable move. The problem with 38...Qc8? (as played in the game) is that after 39 Rh5! the queen being on c8 does not allow Black to remove his king from e7: a) 39...Kf7 40 Rxg5 Rxg5 41 Qxc8 +–. b) 39...Nxh5+ 40 Rxh5 Qd7 (40...Qxf5 41 exf5 +–) 41 Bxg5+ Ke8 42 Bh4 +–. c) 39...Qd7 40 Rxg5! Rxg5 41 Qxg5! Rxg5 42 Bxg5 +– with a decisive advantage. 39 Rh5 Ke8! The key point is that after the bishop takes on g5, there will be no pin. 40 R5h2 40 Rxg5 Rxg5 41 Bxg5 Qxf5 and with an extra knight, Black will be no worse. 40...Kf7 = White lacks any promising way to break through Black’s defences.
Puzzle 338: White to play
Choose between 24 gxf3 and 24 Bxg7+.
Solution 338: White to play
Sandipan – Shyam
Mumbai 2018/19
In the game, White felt he had a sacrificial mating attack, but the black king managed to squirm its way out: 24 Bxg7+? Kxg7 25 Qf7+ Kh6 26 Rd6+ and it all looks very promising, but the question is whether White has a mate. In fact, he doesn’t even have a perpetual. 26...Bxd6 27 Qf6+ Kh5 28 Bf7+ (28 gxf3 Bf4+ –+) 28...Kg4 29 gxf3+ (29 Qg7+!? Ng5 30 h3+ Kf4! 31 Rf1+ Kg3 32 Qxg5+ Kh2 –+) 29...Kh3! –+. It’s rare that a king can safely move so far up the board in the middlegame, but White is running out of pieces, and those he has are not placed to cover all the squares they need to. 30 Bc4 (30 Qh6+ Kg2 –+; 30 Rg1 Bf4+ 31 Kb1 Qe5 –+) 30...Kg2 –+ was played in the game. White should settle for the less ambitious 24 gxf3 Bg5+ 25 Kb1 Be6 with a playable position, and roughly equal chances.
Puzzle 339: Black to play
Choose between 39...Qc1 and 39...Qb1.
Solution 339: Black to play
Sarwat – Kishor
Mumbai 2018/19
To have any real chance of salvation, Black needs to support his queen with 40...Ra1 (so 39...Qa1?, as in the game, makes no sense), but only one square for the queen works. 39...Qc1! 39...Qb1? 40 Rxe7 Ra1 (40...Qf5 41 Qxf5 gxf5 42 Re6 +– with a decisive advantage; 40...Rf8 41 Qe3 Qf5 42 Qe6+ +–) 41 Re8+ Kg7 42 Ne6+ +– and Black loses because his queen does not control the c1h6 diagonal. 40 Rxe7 Ra1! 40...Rf8? loses to 41 Ne6 +–. 41 Re8+ After 41 Qxf6 Black can secure a draw by 41...Qh1+ 42 Kg3 Rg1+ (42...Qg1+!? =) 43 Kf4 Qxh4+ 44 Ke3 Qxg5+ =. 41...Kg7 42 Re7+ Not 42 Ne6+? Kh6 –+. 42...Kg8 = with perpetual check.
Puzzle 340: White to play
Choose between 22 dxc4 and 22 Rb1.
Solution 340: White to play
Ampie – Swiercz
Burlingame 2019
After taking on c4, White will be forced to give up the exchange, but this turns out to be a very good option. 22 dxc4! 22 Rb1? c3 23 Bc1 gives White a difficult position after both 23...b4–/+ and 23...Rb7 –/+, as played in the game. 22...d3 23 Bxd3 Bxb2 24 cxb5! With two good pawns for the exchange, White can be happy. 24...Ne5 24...Bxa1 25 Qxa1 +/–. 25 Bb4 Bxa1 26 Qxa1 +/ with a large advantage.
Puzzle 341: Black to play
Choose between 52...Ng4+ and 52...Ng8.
Solution 341: Black to play
Korley – Mont Reynaud
Burlingame 2019
If the knight drops back to g8, then White has no need to spend time taking the d5pawn and can get on with more important tasks. 52...Ng4+! 52...Ng8? is met not by 53 Kxd5? (as played in the game) 53...a4 =, but 53 Rf7+ Kg6 54 f4!, advancing his pawns rapidly. For example: 54...a4 (54...Rc7 55 f5+ Kh5 56 Nxe7! +–) 55 f5+ Kh5 56 Rf8! Nf6 57 Nxe7 Ng4+ 58 Kd6 +– with an easy win. 53 Kxd5 Kg6! Now if White goes after the e7pawn, the black king will reach f5. Not 53...Nf6+? 54 Rxf6 exf6 55 e7 +–. 54 Rf7 Nf6+ 55 Ke5 55 Kd4 Kf5 =. 55...Rb5+ 56 Kd4 Kf5 57 Rxe7 a4 with an equal position.
Puzzle 342: White to play
Choose between 27 Bxb7 and 27 Re4.
Solution 342: White to play
Sučikova – Chizhikov
Stockholm 2018/19
If White grabs the b7pawn, the e1rook will be shut out of the game. 27 Re4! After 27 Bxb7? Ne3 (as played in the game) the knight on e3 is too strong, and White will not be able to attack the d4pawn in time. 28 Bd5 (28 a4 Kc7 29 Bd5 Kb6 –/+) 28...Kc7! (28...f5? is met by 29 a4! =, to cut the king off after 29...Kc7 30 a5) 29 Bxf7 (29 h4 Nxd5 30 cxd5 Kb6 will be a very unpleasant rook ending for White) 29...g5 30 a4 Kb6 –/+ and after the king reaches c5 White will be on the verge of defeat. 27...f5 27...Ne5 28 Rxd4 b6 =. 28 Rxd4 Rxh2 29 c5! Rxa2 30 Rxd6+ Kc7 31 Rxg6 with an equal position.
Puzzle 343: White to play
Choose between 19 Rg3 and 19 Rf4.
Solution 343: White to play
R.Wu – Ampie
Burlingame 2019
19 Rf4 19 Rg3? allows Black to carry out a combination: 19...Nf5 20 Rh3 (slightly better is 20 Bxh5!? Nxg3 –/+) 20...Bxg2! 21 Ne4 (21 Kxg2 Qg6+ 22 Kh1 Ng3+ –+) 21...Bxe4 22 Qxe4 (thus far as played in the game) 22...g6 –+ with a decisive advantage. 19...Nf5 20 Bf3 with a slight advantage for White.
Puzzle 344: Black to play
Choose between 50...f4+ and 50...Bxd5.
Solution 344: Black to play
R.Shah – Rebut (variation)
Mumbai 2018/19
To decide correctly, we need to calculate the consequences of 50...f4+ accurately. 50...Bxd5! After 50...f4+? 51 Nxf4 gxf4+ 52 Bxf4 Bxf4+ (52...Bg7 53 Bc7 Bc3 54 Ne4 =) 53 Kxf4 Bxd5 54 Ke5! Bxb3 55 Kd4 Black can’t protect his b pawn, so White is saved: 55...Be6 56 Kc5 b3 57 Kb4 Nc6+ 58 Kc3 =. 51 Kf2 51 Nxb4 f4+ –+. 51...Nc6 Black is close to victory.
Puzzle 345: Black to play
Choose between 49...Kh5 and 49...Kg6.
Solution 345: Black to play
Kavutskiy – Somalwar
Burlingame 2019
49...Kg6 After 49...Kh5? (played in the game) 50 Bxf5 Kxh4 51 Kc2 Kg5 White must avoid 52 Kxc3?? Nb1+ 53 Kb2 Kxf5 54 Kxb1 Kg4 –+, but after the correct 52 Bh7! the problem for Black is that he loses not just the c3pawn, but the one on e4 too: 52...Kh6 53 Kxc3 Nb1+ 54 Kb2 Nd2 55 Kc2 +–. 50 Kc2 Nf3 50...Kf6!? 51 Bc8 Nf3 52 h5 Nh4 also survives. 51 h5+ Giving Black an opportunity to make a fatal mistake. 51...Kf6! Carefully sidestepping 51...Kg5? 52 h6 +– and 51...Kxh5? 52 Bxf5 Ng5 53 Kxc3 +–. 52 Bc8 52 h6 Nh4! =. 52...Nh4 53 Kxc3 Kg5 =
Puzzle 346: Black to play
Choose between 88...Qc5+ and 88...Qb4+.
Solution 346: Black to play
Mazé – R.Raja
Stockholm 2018/19
Black must be alert to the fact that the g3pawn rules out checks on f4. 88...Qb4+! The game featured 88...Qc5+? 89 Kf7 Qc4+ 90 Kf8 Qc5+ (90...Qb4+ 91 Kg8 Qc4+ 92 Qf7 +–) 91 Kg8 Qc4+ 92 Qf7 +–, winning. After the stalemate joke 92...Qe6!? 93 a8Q, Black resigned. 89 Kf7 Or 89 Kd8 Qf8+ 90 Kc7 Qc5+ 91 Kb8 Qb4+ with perpetual check after 92 Ka8 (or 92 Qb7 Qd6+ 93 Qc7 Qb4+) 92...Qe4+ 93 Kb8 Qb4+ =. 89...Qb3+! 89...Qc4+? transposes to the 88...Qc5+? line. 90 Kf8 Qf3+ and Black saves his skin by checking: 91 Ke8 (91 Ke7 Qe4+ 92 Kd8 Qa8+ =) 91...Qa8+ 92 Ke7 Qe4+ =.
Puzzle 347: White to play
Choose between 41 f4 and 41 d4.
Solution 347: White to play
Sugden – Pitschka (variation)
Hastings 2018/19
Setting aside White’s options of repeating moves by 41 Qh4+ Kg8 42 Qd8 or 41 Nf6+ Kg7 42 Ne8+, there is only one path to victory. 41 d4! After 41 f4? exf4 (41...b3? 42 d4 +–) 42 d4 Qb3! Black is OK thanks to the threat of perpetual check: 43 Qh4+ Kg8 44 Qxf4 Qe6 =. 41...b3 41...exd4 42 f4 b3 43 Nf6+ Kg7 44 e5 +–. 42 f4! b2 43 Nf6+ Qxf6 Or 43...Kg7 44 dxe5 +– with mate in a few moves. 44 Qxf6 b1Q 44...Be6!? is more stubborn, but White wins after 45 Qh4+ (45 d5!? b1Q 46 dxe6 +–) 45...Kg7 (45...Kg8 46 Qd8+ Kh7 47 Qb8 +–) 46 f5 gxf5 (46...b1Q 47 f6+ Kg8 48 Qh6 +–) 47 Qg3+ Kh7 48 Qe1 Ba2 49 d5! +–. 45 Qxf7+ Kh6 46 Qf8+ + with an easy win.
Puzzle 348: Black to play
Choose between 61...Kd7 and 61...Bf4.
Solution 348: Black to play
Krishna Teja – Hammarström
Stockholm 2018/19
In the game, Black chose to attack the white pawns with the bishop move, but this loses due to a sneaky tactic. 61...Kd7! Correctly freeing the king from its cage. The game ended 61...Bf4? 62 Nf5!! (62 Nxg6? Bxg5 =) 62...gxf5 63 g6 (White either mates or promotes) 63...fxg6 (63...Bg5 64 g7 +–) 64 Ke6 g5 65 f7# (10). 62 Nf3 Bf4 = with an equal position.
Puzzle 349: White to play
Choose between 59 f5 and 59 g6.
Solution 349: White to play
Siva – Nikhil
Mumbai 2018/19
White should not hastily push his pawn to g7, as it will be left stranded without the support of the fpawn. 59 f5! After 59 g6? c3 60 Rc7 c2 it is obvious that White has gone wrong, though he can still save the game: a) Not 61 g7? Rg8! –+. b) 61 Kf3? Re3+ 62 Kf2 (62 Kg4 Rc3 –+) 62...Rxh3 –+, as played in the game, is also hopeless for White. c) 61 Rxc2+ Kxc2 62 Kf3 Kd3 is unclear. d) 61 f5 Re2+ (61...Rf8!? 62 Kf3 =) 62 Kf1 (62 Kf3?! Re3+ –/+) 62...Re1+ 63 Kf2 = with a repetition of moves. 59...c3 Or 59...Rc8 60 f6 c3 61 Re7 c2 62 Re2+ Kd3 63 Rxc2 +–. 60 Rc7 Not 60 f6? Rg8 =. 60...c2 60...Rg8 61 g6 Rf8 62 Rc5 (62 Kf3!? Rxf5+ 63 Kg4 +–) 62...c2 63 g7 c1Q 64 gxf8Q +–. 61 f6 White can also play 61 Rxc2+!? Kxc2 62 f6 Rf8 63 Ke3 +–, when his pawns are unstoppable. 61...Re2+ 62 Kf3 Re3+ 63 Kg4 Rc3 64 Rxc3 Kxc3 65 f7 c1Q 66 f8Q + With the b4pawn defended, Black has no counterplay and therefore no hope of salvation.
Puzzle 350: Black to play
Choose between 42...g4 and 42...Ka8.
Solution 350: Black to play
Lugovskoi – Harshavardhan
Mumbai 2018/19
A strategic exercise. Black must understand whether he needs to prevent 43 f3 or if he should leave the kingside pawns as they are. 42...Ka8! After 42...g4? (as played in the game) 43 Kc3 +– it becomes clear that Black has not just given up the f4square, but also squandered his tempo move with the gpawn. Black’s position is hopeless: a) 43...Ka8 44 Kb4 Kb8 (44...Ka7 45 Na4 Ba6 46 Kc5 +–) 45 a6!? Ka8 46 Nb3! Bxa6 47 Kc5 +–. b) 43...Ka7 44 Kb4 Kb8 45 a6 Ka8 46 Nb3! Bxa6 47 Kc5 +–. If the pawn were still on g5, Black would play 47...Bf1, take on g2 and push his hpawn. 43 Kc3 The exchange of pawns with 43 f3 exf3 44 gxf3 Ka7 = gives White nothing. 43...Kb8 44 Kb4 Ka7 45 Na4 45 Ka4 Kb8 46 a6 Ka8 =. 45...Ba6 46 Nc5 No better is 46 Kc5 Bf1 with unclear play. 46...Bc8! 46...Bf1? loses to 47 Ne6 +–. 47 Ka4 Kb8 48 a6 Ka8 = White can’t strengthen his position.
Puzzle 351: White to play
Choose between 26 Qxh4 and 26 Be2.
Solution 351: White to play
Ratnesan – Sumit
Hastings 2018/19
With the correct followup by both sides, one of these moves wins and the other loses. 26 Qxh4 26 Be2? Nf8! (26...Qxh5? 27 Bxh5 += was played in the game; 26...Kf7?! 27 Qxh4 Nxh4 28 Bh5 is unclear) 27 Bxf8 Rxf8 and White cannot support the knight on g6. 28 Rc2 (28 Kh1 Ng3+ –+) 28...Qxh5 29 Bxh5 Nh4 –+. 26...Nxh4 27 Be7! White wins thanks to the bishop’s successful transfer to f6. Not 27 Rg2? Nxg2 28 Kxg2 Kh7, when Black is no worse. 27...Nxg6 28 Bf6 Nxf6 28...Ngxe5+ 29 Bxg7 Nxd3 30 Bh6 +–. 29 exf6 Rf7 29...Nxf4+ 30 fxg7 Nxd3 31 Rd2 +–. 30 Bxg6 Rxf6 31 Rg2 + with a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 352: White to play
Choose between 52 Qb2 and 52 Qd2.
Solution 352: White to play
Šafranska – Nayem
Mumbai 2018/19
Covering f4 is a priority here, so d2 is the correct square. 52 Qd2! 52 Qb2?, as played in the game, is bad due to 52...h5! 53 Kf1 (it is too late to play 53 Qd2 h4 54 Qe3 h3 –+; 53 Kh1 h4 54 Re3 Rcg8 +) 53...Qf4+ 54 Rf2 Rc1+ 55 Be1 (55 Ke2 Rxg2 56 Rxg2 Qxe4+ –+) 55...Rxg2! 56 Kxg2 (56 Qb8+ Rg8 –+) 56...Qxe4+ –+ with an easy win. 52...h5 53 Kf1 h4 54 Qe3 with an unclear position.
Puzzle 353: Black to play
Choose between 46...Kf3 and 46...Be1.
Solution 353: Black to play
Nikhil – Konguvel (variation)
Mumbai 2018/19
This is liable to reach a bishop and wrong rook’s pawn ending. The main thing is to calculate whether the white king will be in time to get in front of the black hpawn. 46...Kf3! 46...Be1? fails to win because after 47 h5 Bg3 48 g5! fxg5 49 fxg5 Bxd6 50 Kb2 Be5+ 51 Kxb3 =, while Black is rounding up the white pawns, White’s king will walk over to h1. 47 g5 Kg4! 48 gxf6 48 Be7 f5 –+. 48...Bxf6 49 Be5 Bxh4 50 Kb2 Bg3 51 Kxb3 Bxf4 52 Bf6 Bg5! –+ White is short of one vital tempo to salvage the draw: 53 Be5 (53 Bxg5 Kxg5 54 Kc2 Kf4 –+) 53...h5 54 Kc2 Kf3 55 Kd1 h4 56 Ke1 Kg2 with an easy win: 57 Ke2 h3 58 Bd6 Bh4 59 Be5 Bg3 –+.
Puzzle 354: White to play
Choose between 50 g6+ and 50 h6.
Solution 354: White to play
Nguyen Van Huy – Sandipan
Mumbai 2018/19
A tempogaining check is not necessarily a good idea. 50 h6! 50 g6+? Kg7 51 Rxe6 Rd8! and with his rook behind the passed pawn, Black holds: 52 Re7+ Kh8! (52...Kg8? 53 h6 d3 54 h7+ Kh8 55 Kg5 +–) 53 h6 d3 54 Re1 d2 55 Rd1 Rd5 with a drawn position. 50...d3 51 Rf2+! 51 Rd2? Kg6 =. 51...Ke7 52 Rd2 Rd8 53 Kh5 with an easy win: 53...e5 54 g6 (54 h7 +–) 54...e4 55 h7 +–.
Puzzle 355: Black to play
Choose between 28...Rd2 and 28...Rb2.
Solution 355: Black to play
Zierk – J.Williams
Burlingame 2019
At first sight putting the rook on d2 just gets Black’s pieces tangled up, but he has a great idea up his sleeve. 28...Rd2! 28...Rb2? leads to an unclear position after 29 Be1 Qd4+ 30 Rf2 or 29 e6!? Nxe6 30 Bxh7+ Kh8 (as played in the game). 29 Qe1 Qd4!! Black is going to attack g2, and White lacks the resources to defend this square: 30 Bxd4 (30 Ba4 Ba8! 31 Bd1 Rbb2 –+) 30...Rxg2+ 31 Kh1 Rxc2+ 32 Rf3 (32 Kg1 Rg2+ 33 Kh1 Rg4+ –+) 32...Bxf3+ 33 Kg1 Rg2+ 34 Kf1 Rxh2 with a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 356: Black to play
Choose between 37...Rc7 and 37...Re7.
Solution 356: Black to play
Movsziszian – Tarun (variation)
Mumbai 2018/19
White wants to play 38 Re3 and then pick up the g4pawn. Black needs to appreciate in advance that if his rook is on e7, he will not be able to meet this with 38...Nf5. 37...Rc7! 37...Re7? 38 Re3! (38 Nxg4? Nf3+ 39 Kf2 Rd2+ 40 Re2 Be4 is unclear) and now: a) 38...Nf3+ 39 Nxf3 Bxf3 (39...gxf3 40 Bd3 +–) 40 Rxg7 Rxg7 41 Qxe6 +–. b) 38...Nf5 39 Nxg4! Nxe3 40 Nh6 +– and Black will be mated because his king is blocked by the rook on e7: 40...Rc7 41 Rh8+ Bxh8 42 Qg8+ Ke7 43 Qf7#. c) 38...Bh1!? 39 Bxd4 Rxd4 40 Qxg4 Be4 +– is perhaps Black’s best practical try: while he is objectively lost, he can hope for a miracle. 38 Nxg4 Here after 38 Re3 Nf5! (38...Nf3+? 39 Nxf3 Bxf3 40 Qxe6 +–) 39 Nxg4 Nxe3 (39...Be4!? is also unclear) White can’t trap the king since 40 Nh6? loses to 40...Rd1 –+. After 40 Nxe3 the game is unclear. 38...Nf3+ 39 Kf2 Rd2+! Not 39...Nxe1? 40 Nf6 +–. 40 Re2 Be4 with a completely unclear position.
Puzzle 357: Black to play
Choose between 54...Nc5 and 54...Nc1.
Solution 357: Black to play
Deviatkin – Nguyen Van Huy
Mumbai 2018/19
It is very important not to allow the white king to advance up the board. 54...Nc1! 54...Nc5? (played in the game) 55 Re7 Ra3+ (slightly better is the steely 55...Na6! 56 d6 Nb8 +/–; after 55...Ra1 56 d6 Rd1 57 Kc4 Black can’t stop the white king: 57...h5 58 h4 +–) 56 Kc4 Ra2 57 d6 Rxg2 58 Kb5 Rb2+ 59 Kc6 +– and it is very hard for Black to give up his knight for the dpawn. 59...Rb1 loses to 60 Bf2. 55 d6 Rc5+ 56 Kd4 Nb3+ 57 Kd3 b5! = Black intends to check on d5 and transfer his knight to f5.
Puzzle 358: White to play
Choose between 28 Bc4 and 28 N1c2.
Solution 358: White to play
Rathnakaran – Movsziszian
Mumbai 2018/19
The main point to understand is that by putting his bishop on c4, White would invite counterplay with ...f4! followed by ...Nf5. The move White chose in the game, 28 Nc4?, also fails to address this idea and is bad: 28...bxc3! 29 bxc3 f4!, etc. 28 N1c2! After 28 Bc4? bxc3 29 bxc3 f4! 30 gxf4 Nf5 the position is completely unclear. 31 Qxg6+!? proves unsuccessful after 31...hxg6 32 Rh8+ Kg7 33 R1h7+ Kf6 34 Nxg4+ Ke7 35 Rxc8 Rxc8 36 d6+ Nxd6 with a roughly level endgame. 28...bxc3 28...Bxa4 29 Bc4 and then: a) 29...f4?! 30 gxf4 Nf5 doesn’t help any more: 31 Qxg6+ (31 Qb6!? +–) 31...hxg6 32 d6 +–. b) 29...bxc3 30 bxc3 +/–. 29 bxc3 and White is close to victory. For example: 29...Bxa4 (29...Qxc3 30 Qxd7 Rc8 31 Ba6 +/– gives Black insufficient attacking resources; 29...f4 30 gxf4 Nf5 31 Qa3 +/–; 29...Qb7 30 Nd4 Bxa4 31 Qa3 + threatens to advance the dpawn) 30 Bc4 Rb8 31 Ba6 (31 Qa3 +/–) 31...Qd8 32 Qxd8+ Rxd8 33 d6 Rxd6 34 Bc4 +– with an extra exchange and a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 359: Black to play
Choose between 40...Re6 and 40...Rf6.
Solution 359: Black to play
Limanovska – J.Wallace
Stockholm 2018/19
Black would like to double his rooks on the gfile. The difference between the two suggested ways to achieve this is that putting the rooks on f6 and g7 allows White a fleeting chance to take on e4. 40...Re6! 40...Rf6? 41 Kh1 Rg7 42 Bxe4!? fxe4 (42...Rg5 43 Qe8 fxe4 44 Rd7+ +=) 43 Qxe5 = was played in the game. 41 c5 This prevents the rook from immediately moving to g7, but fails to change the assessment of the position. Other moves: a) 41 Re1 Rg6 42 Rxe4 fxe4 43 Rxe5 Qc6!? –+. b) 41 Kf1 Qe7!? (41...Rg6 –/+) 42 c5 Qf6 43 Rd6 Nd3 –+. c) After 41 Kh1?! Rg6 White has no tactic on e4, and loses: 42 c5 (42 Bxe4 Rg5 –+; 42 Rg1 Rg5 43 Qe2 Rfg7 –+) 42...Rg5 43 Qe2 Rfg7 –+. 41...Nd3 Not 41...Rg6?, when 42 Rd6 is unclear, but 41...Qe7!? is a very good alternative. 42 Rxf5 Rg6 43 Kf1 Nf4 –+ Black wins a piece.
Puzzle 360: White to play
Choose between 41 Rxh7 and 41 Ke3.
Solution 360: White to play
Stupak – M.Manik (variation)
Mumbai 2018/19
An accurate assessment of either move should bring you very close to a correct decision. 41 Rxh7! 41 Ke3? Rc2 (41...f4+? is premature: 42 gxf4 Rc2 43 Kf3 Rxc3+ 44 Kg4 Rc2 45 Rxh7 Rxf2 46 Rg7 +–) 42 Rxa7 f4+! (now this sacrifice is timely, and enables Black to protect the h7pawn; not 42...Rxc3+? 43 Kf4 Rd3 44 Ra6+ Kd7 45 Ke5 +–) 43 Kxf4 (43 gxf4 Rxc3+ 44 Kd2 Rh3 =) 43...Rxf2+ 44 Kg4 Rh2 and since White can’t transfer his king to e5, the game is drawn: 45 Ra6+ Ke7 46 Kf4 Rf2+ =. 41...Rxf2 42 Ke3 Rg2 42...Rc2 43 Rc7 changes nothing. 43 Kf3 Rc2 44 Rc7! It is important to lure the king to d6 so that it loses contact with f7. Not 44 Rxa7? Rxc3+ 45 Kf4 Rd3 46 Ra6+ Kf7 =. 44...Kd6 44...a5 doesn’t help since after 45 Rc6+ Kf7 (45...Kd7 46 Rxg6 +–) 46 Kf4 a4 47 Rf6+ Kg7 48 Ra6 Rxc3 49 Rxa4 +– the white king will reach e5. 45 Rxa7 Rxc3+ 46 Kf4 Rd3 47 Ra6+ Ke7 48 Ke5 Rxg3 Or 48...Kf7 49 Ra7+ +–. 49 Rxg6 + with a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 361: White to play
Choose between 29 Kh1 and 29 Bf2.
Solution 361: White to play
Malek – Ornstein
Stockholm 2018/19
White must take vigorous action while the black knight is still on a5. 29 Bf2! After 29 Kh1? Nc6! 30 fxe5 Nxe5 –+ (as played in the game) Black has activated his knight, and White has no compensation for the pawn. 29...Qxd6 30 Bh4 White has counterplay because Black has no time to cover the f file because the rook on d8 is loose. 30...Qc5+ 30...Kg8 31 fxe5 Qc5+ 32 Rf2 f5 33 Bxd8 fxe4 34 Bf6 is unclear. 31 Kh1 Rd7 After 31...Rd6 32 fxe5 fxe5 both 33 Qf3 and 33 Ref4!? are unclear. 32 fxe5 fxe5 33 Bf6+ Kg8 34 Rxe5 Rxe5 35 Bxe5! White’s bishop is much more active than the knight, which makes up for the missing pawn. Not 35 Qxe5? Qxe5 36 Bxe5 Nc4 –+. 35...Qc4 After 35...Nc6 36 Bg3 White also retains compensation, while 35...Re7 36 Qf3! Rxe5 37 Qf7+ Kh8 38 Qf6+ = is a draw. 36 Qf3 With enough compensation for the pawn.
Puzzle 362: Black to play
Choose between 26...Re8 and 26...Rg8.
Solution 362: Black to play
J.Thybo – Haug
Stockholm 2018/19
The question is where the knight is more dangerous – d6 or e7? 26...Re8! After 26...Rg8? 27 Ne7 Qc2 28 Qd6 (or 28 Qd4 Re8 29 Qd8) 28...Re8 29 Qd8! +– Black loses because his king has no luft. For example: 29...Qa4 30 Nxc8 h6 31 Qd7 Qxd7 32 Rxd7 Rxc8 33 Rxf7 +– (as played in the game). 27 Nd6 White gains nothing from 27 Qa4 Rf8 28 Qb4 Re8. 27...Rf8! After 27...Rg8?! 28 f4 +/– the queen is tied to the f7pawn. 28 f4 Qc2 29 Qd2 There’s no need to fear 29 Rd2 Qc1+ 30 Kf2 a5!? +=. 29...Qxd2 30 Rxd2 g6 += White has a slight advantage, but the worst is over for Black.
Puzzle 363: White to play
Choose between 44 e5 and 44 Kb3.
Solution 363: White to play
K.Varga – Mosadeghpour (variation)
Mumbai 2018/19
After one of these moves, Black can suddenly escape his fate. 44 e5! The wrong choice is 44 Kb3? Kf8 45 Ka4 Ke7 46 Kb5. Then: a) 46...Ne5? loses to 47 Kxa5 +– or 47 Kxc5 +–. b) 46...Kd8!! is a miracle save. Because White can’t take the knight, Black holds the position. 44...Kf8 45 Bg2 45 e6?! fxe6 46 Bxe6 Ke7 +/– reduces White’s advantage. 45...Nd8 46 Kb3 Ke7 47 Ka4 Or 47 Bd5!? Kxd7 48 Ka4 Ne6 (48...Nc6 49 Bxc6+ +–) 49 Kxa5 +–. 47...Ke6 47...Kxd7 48 Kxa5 +–. 48 Kxa5 Kxe5 49 Kb6 Kd6 50 Bd5 + with an easy win.
Puzzle 364: Black to play
Choose between 30...Qe5 and 30...Nc5.
Solution 364: Black to play
Gauri – Ghazarian
Burlingame 2019
The wrong choice loses, whereas the correct one keeps the game roughly level. 30...Qe5! After 30...Nc5? 31 Rc8! Black must secure his king by exchanging rooks, but this leaves him with a very bad endgame: a) 31...Rxb3 32 Rc7+ Kg8 33 Qh6 +–. b) 31...Qf7 32 b4! Nd7 33 Rc7 (33 b5 +–) 33...Rc6 34 Rxb7 +– was played in the game. c) 31...Rc6 32 Rxc6 bxc6 33 b4 Nd7 34 Qa7 Qd8 35 b5 +– and White’s wellsupported passed pawn gives him a decisive advantage. 31 Rd8 Nc5 32 Qf3 Qf5 with a playable and roughly equal position: 33 Qc3+ (33 Qd1 Qf6 34 Rxd6 Rxb3 =) 33...Qe5.
Part 2: No Clues!
For the rest of the book, you will be on your own: just a diagram, and an indication of who is to play. It is up to you to determine whether you should be playing for a win or a draw, and how deeply to analyse before deciding what you would play. Good luck! See you in the solutions.
8: Not Too Hard
Our first batch of ‘no clues’ positions isn’t too tough: 82 positions of levels 1 and 2. The first few are especially easy to give you a little encouragement to persevere!
Puzzle 365: Black to play
Solution 365: Black to play
Sutković – Strinić (variation)
Sarajevo 2019
The white king is short of squares, so 64...Qh2# is instant mate.
Puzzle 366: White to play
Solution 366: White to play
Krzywda – Fiedorek
Wrocla 2019
41 Be6# (1-0)
Puzzle 367: Black to play
Solution 367: Black to play
Sinauridze – Rasa
Latvian Ch, Riga 2019
35...Qe1# (0-1)
Puzzle 368: White to play
Solution 368: White to play
V.Karthik – Ynojosa (variation)
Burlingame 2019
White must force mate, since otherwise his position is hopeless. 50 Rxa5+! Kxa5 51 Qa7#
Puzzle 369: White to play
Solution 369: White to play
Wang Puxuan – Guan Runpei
Tianjin 2018/19
White should have played 41 Qxf3! +– since if Black takes the queen, he’ll be mated: 41...exf3 42 Rxe8+ Qf8 43 Rxf8#.
Puzzle 370: White to play
Solution 370: White to play
A.Barton – Park Sijoon
Hastings 2018/19
Black’s previous move, 10...b6??, left a fatal weakness on c6, so 11 Nc6! +– wins the queen and the game.
Puzzle 371: White to play
Solution 371: White to play
Aaryan – Ankit (variation)
Mumbai 2018/19
The undefended knight on f6 invites a tactical blow: 22 Nxb5! Ke7 (or 22...axb5 23 Bxf6+ +/–) 23 Nc3 +/– with an extra pawn and good chances to win.
Puzzle 372: White to play
Solution 372: White to play
Siva – Snehal
Mumbai 2018/19
If we look closely at the position we notice that after an exchange of rooks White can make a knight fork: 21 Rxe8+! (21 Ne7+? Kf8! offers White nothing, though he can still make a draw by repetition after the forced sequence 22 Qf4! Qa5! 23 Ng6+! Kf7! 24 Qc4+! Kxg6 25 Qg4+) 21...Qxe8 22 Nc7! Qc6 23 Nxa8 +–. In an open position, rook and three pawns usually overpower a bishop and knight. White has a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 373: Black to play
Solution 373: Black to play
Wang Puxuan – C.Hunt
Tianjin 2018/19
When facing a bishop, you need to be careful about your king and rook being on the same diagonal. Black brought this about by 38...Rxe3+! 39 Kxe3 Bb6+ 0-1. With an extra bishop, Black wins easily.
Puzzle 374: White to play
Solution 374: White to play
Jiang Qinyu – Chu Ruotong
Tianjin 2018/19
23 Rb6! (winning the bishop or an exchange; after 23 Bxb5? Rxb5, the game later ended in a draw) 23...Rxe4 (23...Bxe2 24 Rxb4 +–) 24 fxe4 Bxe2 25 Rxb7 +– and White’s victory is just a question of time.
Puzzle 375: Black to play
Solution 375: Black to play
M.Rahman – Bhambure (variation)
Mumbai 2018/19
White has too many pieces on the dfile. Black just needs to deflect the white queen so the d3bishop is left undefended. 19...Rxc1+! 20 Qxc1 e5 –+ wins a piece and the game.
Puzzle 376: White to play
Solution 376: White to play
Li Kam – C.Hunt (based on)
Tianjin 2018/19
With a single move, White removes both defenders of the e6knight: 32 Rxf5! (not 32 Rf1? Rxd5!, with an unclear position, as Black has reasonable compensation for the exchange) 32...Rxf5 33 Bxe6+ + and White will be a bishop up.
Puzzle 377: White to play
Solution 377: White to play
Liu Yan – Idani
Tianjin 2018/19
Thanks to the exposed king on f6, White can leave the bishop to be taken on f2 and save his rook: 28 Rh1! (the exchangedown position after 28 Bg1? Nxh2 –+ is hopeless for White) 28...Nxf2 29 Rf1 = with a roughly equal position.
Puzzle 378: White to play
Solution 378: White to play
S.Peng – Korley (variation)
Burlingame 2019
A discovered attack wins the queen, but only if it comes with check: 34 Nf5+ (not 34 Nf3? Rd5 =) 34...Rxf5 35 Rxd6 +–.
Puzzle 379: White to play
Solution 379: White to play
Pranav – K.Trisha
Mumbai 2018/19
Since the white queen is protected, 30 Rxe5! wins. After 30...Qxg4, the zwischenzug (‘inbetween move’) 31 Rxe8+ Kf7 32 hxg4 + leaves White a piece up.
Puzzle 380: White to play
Solution 380: White to play
Training position
White can exploit the fact that only the black pawn on e6 separates the rooks on d6 and h6. In other words, a fork based on a pin wins the exchange: 1 Nd5+! exd5 2 Rxh6 +– and White wins easily.
Puzzle 381: White to play
Solution 381: White to play
Raghunandan – Deshpande
Mumbai 2018/19
White wants to rescue his knight without allowing mate. There is a way: 13 Nh4! Qxh4 14 Bxg4 +– and the mating threats are history but the extra piece remains.
Puzzle 382: Black to play
Solution 382: Black to play
B.Stoyanov – Kearsley
Hastings 2018/19
If the c3pawn were to vanish, the bishop on c2 would be loose. But Black needs to find the most forcing way to bring this about. 21...Nxd4! (at a glance 21...Nxb4? might seem just as effective, but 22 Bb3 gives White a good position) 22 cxd4 Rxc2 –+ with an extra pawn and a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 383: Black to play
Solution 383: Black to play
Wang Xiaoyan – Lu Miaoyi (variation)
Tianjin 2018/19
As the white queen is tied to the defence of g2, Black can smash through on e5: 26...Rxe5! –+ leaves White defenceless. Either he loses his queen or is mated: 27 Qxg6 Rxe1# or 27 Qxe5 Qxg2#.
Puzzle 384: White to play
Solution 384: White to play
R.Shah – Kafle (based on)
Mumbai 2018/19
After two checks, White wins: 27 Qd3+! Kg8 (or 27...g6 28 Rc7+ +–) 28 Rc8+ +–.
Puzzle 385: White to play
Solution 385: White to play
Hillarp Persson – Gholami
Stockholm 2018/19
33 Rg8+! Ke7 34 Re8+ Kxf6 35 Rxe3 +– and an exchange to the good, White wins easily.
Puzzle 386: White to play
Solution 386: White to play
Samant – Movsziszian
Mumbai 2018/19
Black resigned after 36 Nf3!. There is no way to save the queen, so it is game over. Instead after 36 Qc2+? Kh8 37 Nf3 Nxe3! White has squandered his chance.
Puzzle 387: White to play
Solution 387: White to play
Senthil – Anuj
Mumbai 2018/19
If the queen has no immediate escape, the only option is to counterattack: 26 Bg2! (not 26 Rcd1? Rxd8 27 Rxd8 Qc7 –+) 26...Qxg2+ 27 Kxg2 Rxd8 28 Rcd1 +– and an exchange to the good, White wins easily.
Puzzle 388: White to play
Solution 388: White to play
An.Larsen – Gu In
Hastings 2018/19
White can use a pin to win a piece: 17 Qd5+! Qd6 (avoiding the queen exchange doesn’t save Black either: 17...Kc7 18 Qxe6 Nxg4 19 Qxg4 +–) 18 Bxe6+ +– with an extra bishop and an easy win.
Puzzle 389: Black to play
Solution 389: Black to play
Ameir – Visakh
Mumbai 2018/19
Since the c4pawn is tied to the defence of the knight on b5, Black can pick up the pawn on d5: 49...Nxd5! (as played in the game) 50 cxd5 (even worse is 50 Nxd6?! Nc7 –+, when rather than a mere pawn, White has lost the exchange) 50...Rxb5 –/+ with an extra pawn and good chances to win.
Puzzle 390: Black to play
Solution 390: Black to play
Mahindrakar – Akash (variation)
Mumbai 2018/19
White loses the rook on f4 because of its undefended colleague on g1: 27...Qxf4! 28 gxf4 Rxg1+ 29 Kh2 R8g2#.
Puzzle 391: Black to play
Solution 391: Black to play
Babujian – Kravtsiv (based on)
Erevan 2013
A single pawn often proves to be insufficient cover for a king: 45...Qg4! 46 Rd2 Rc1+ 47 Kf2 Qh4+ with mate next move.
Puzzle 392: Black to play
Solution 392: Black to play
C.Wheeler – Polgar-Shutzman (variation)
Burlingame 2019
Black saves his rook using a pin: 29...Qd7! 30 h3 h5 (30...Rf6!? –+) 31 hxg4 hxg4 –+.
Puzzle 393: Black to play
Solution 393: Black to play
Harmon-Vellotti – J.Williams (variation)
Burlingame 2019
The pin on the g2pawn means that White loses an exchange on h3: 37...Qxh3! (37...Qg6? 38 Qg3 =) 38 Rhxh3 Bxh3 39 Rxh3 b5 with a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 394: Black to play
Solution 394: Black to play
Saidy – Kung (variation)
Burlingame 2019
Black wins thanks to the pin: 22...Rd2+! 23 Kf1 Bxf3 24 gxf3 Rxb2–+.
Puzzle 395: White to play
Solution 395: White to play
B.Jacobson – Ali Marandi (variation)
Burlingame 2019
43 Qf1+! (Black loses his bishop or the c4pawn) 43...Qf6 44 Qxc4 +–.
Puzzle 396: White to play
Solution 396: White to play
Y.Liou – R.Kaufman
Burlingame 2019
White wins a pawn and the game with a double attack: 40 Rd6! Rc1+ (40...Bxf3 41 Rxb6 +–) 41 Kh2 Bxf3 and after 42 Rxb6 Black resigned. White also gets a decisive advantage with 42 Rxh6+ Kg7 43 Rxb6 +–.
Puzzle 397: White to play
Solution 397: White to play
Ankit – Kravtsiv (variation)
Nagpur 2012
26 Rxd3! Rxd3 27 Kxf2 +– with a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 398: White to play
Solution 398: White to play
Kravtsiv – Rzayev (variation)
Kazan tt 2013
After 24 Nb6+! Black loses his queen or is mated: 24...Kb8 (24...Qxb6 25 Qxb6 +–) 25 Qa8#.
Puzzle 399: White to play
Solution 399: White to play
J.Wang – S.Peng (variation)
Burlingame 2019
The queen is unfortunately placed on d7: 25 Nf6+! Kh8 26 Nxd7 +–.
Puzzle 400: White to play
Solution 400: White to play
Zilka – Kravtsiv (variation)
Erevan 2013
21 Be5! wins because there’s no good answer to the mate threat on h7: 21...Nxe5 (21...Qe6 22 Qh7#) 22 dxe5 +–.
Puzzle 401: Black to play
Solution 401: Black to play
Daggupati – Abrahamyan (variation)
Burlingame 2019
Black should not be distracted by the h3pawn, as there is bigger game to hunt: 33...Nd5+! (33...Bxh3? 34 Kc3 =+) 34 Ka3 Nxe3 –+ wins a bishop.
Puzzle 402: White to play
Solution 402: White to play
Kravtsiv – Ankit
Chennai 2012
With 31 Rd3! White solves the problem of his loose rook with tempo, so next move he will take the knight. After 31...Qb1 Black resigned in view of 32 dxc6 (or 32 Qe3!? +–) 32...Rxd3 33 c7 +–.
Puzzle 403: Black to play
Solution 403: Black to play
Vigneshwaran – Kravtsiv (variation)
Chennai 2012
Rather than a mere pawn on f3, Black can pick up the white knight: 41...Qd1+! (now White can’t save the knight without losing his queen; 41...Qxf3? 42 Qxf3 =) 42 Ne1 (42 Kf2 Qxc2+ –+) 42...Bd4 +.
Puzzle 404: White to play
Solution 404: White to play
Ragger – Kravtsiv (variation)
European Ch, Legnica 2013
A discovered check wins the black queen: 38 Na6+ Kd7 39 Nxc7 +–.
Puzzle 405: White to play
Solution 405: White to play
Kett – Dong Bao
British League (4NCL) 2018/19
White delivers a beautiful mate: 33 Rh8+! and Black resigned in view of 33...Bxh8 34 Qh7+ Kf8 35 Qxf7#.
Puzzle 406: White to play
Solution 406: White to play
Javakhishvili – Guichard (variation)
French Team Ch 2019
37 Rc5! Rxc7 (37...e5 38 Rxe5 changes nothing) 38 Rxg5+ Kf8 39 Rh5! Kg8 40 Rdh1, mating.
Puzzle 407: White to play
Solution 407: White to play
Rathnakaran – Mahindrakar
Mumbai 2018/19
A common way to win material is with a zwischenzug (an ‘in between move’), especially one that gives check. 27 Qxd8+! White misses his chance with either 27 Rxd8? Qf4+ (Black escapes with his own zwischenzug!) 28 Kc2 Rxd8 or 27 Nxe5? Rxd1+ 28 Kxd1 Rxa8, with unclear play in both cases. 27...Rxd8 28 Nxe5 + with an easy win.
Puzzle 408: White to play
Solution 408: White to play
Training position
White can’t save the c7pawn, but he can use it to set up a fork of the black rooks: 1 c8Q! Rxc8 2 Nb6 +– with an extra exchange and a decisive advantage. Solution 408: White to play Training position White can’t save the c7pawn, but he can use it to set up a fork of the black rooks: 1 c8Q! Rxc8 2 Nb6 +– with an extra exchange and a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 409: Black to play
Solution 409: Black to play
Chen Fan – Nie Xinyang (variation)
Tianjin 2018/19
After 29...Rb3! White has no defence against the threat of 30...Rc4+. He can give up his queen by 30 Qa6 (or 30 f3 Rc4+ 31 Ne4 fxe4 32 fxe4 Rcc3 with mate to follow) 30...Rc4+ 31 Qxc4 Bxc4 –+ but this is hopeless. Instead 29...Rc4+? 30 Kf3 +– lets the king escape its prison.
Puzzle 410: Black to play
Solution 410: Black to play
T.Dahl – Valkama (variation)
Stockholm 2018/19
39...Nf3+! 39...Qc6? allows 40 Qh6+ (40 Qe5+? Rf6 –+) 40...Kf6 41 Qh8+ Ke6 (41...Kf5 42 g4+ Ke6 43 Re8+ =) 42 Re8+ Kd7 43 Rd8+ = with perpetual check. 40 Kg2 Rg1+ 41 Kxf3 41 Qxg1 Nxg1 –+. 41...Rxg3+ –+ with a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 411: White to play
Solution 411: White to play
Hillarp Persson – Karthikeyan
Stockholm 2018/19
With the help of a couple of knight checks, White wins the enemy queen: 20 Ne7+ Kh8 21 Nfg6+ with a decisive material advantage no matter how Black takes: 21...Qxg6 (21...fxg6 22 Bxh6 +–; 21...hxg6 22 Bxh6 +–) 22 Bxg6 +–.
Puzzle 412: White to play
Solution 412: White to play
Kravtsiv – Goganov (variation)
Erevan 2013
White needs to remove the defender of the f5knight: 22 Rxe6! Nd6 (22...Rxe6 23 Bxf5 +–) 23 Rxe8+ Rxe8 24 Rxe8+ Qxe8 25 Qxf4 + with a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 413: Black to play
Solution 413: Black to play
S.Kusnetsov – Lewicki
Krako 2018/19
White intends 32 Nd6, so Black needs to remove the rook from e8. He played 31...Re5!, when after 32 Rb3 (32 Bc6 Rc5! –+; 32 Nxa7 Rxc7 –+) 32...Bd7 Black will take the pawn on c7, gaining a decisive plus. 33 Nxa7? is no good due to 33...Rxc7 –+.
Puzzle 414: White to play
Solution 414: White to play
Navin – Kravtsiv (variation)
Chennai 2012
White must address Black’s threat to take on e2. 29 Kg2! 29 Rxe7? fails due to 29...Bxe2 –+ with mate threats. Inserting 29 Ra8+? Kg7 before playing 30 Kg2 Rxb2 –+ is no good because the loose bishop on b6 means that White can’t save his pawn on e2. 29...Bf6 29...Bg5 30 Bc5 Rxb2 31 Rb7 =. 30 Bc5 Rxb2 31 e3 =
Puzzle 415: White to play
Solution 415: White to play
Training position
A simple but beautiful sequence wins: 1 Rd8+ (1 Nd4? Rxe2+ 2 Nxe2 Qf2+ –+) 1...Kh7 (1...Qf8 2 Rxf8+ Kxf8 3 Rxc2 Rxc2+ 4 Kg1 +–) 2 Rh8+! Kxh8 3 Qxf6+ +–, mating.
Puzzle 416: White to play
Solution 416: White to play
V.Larsson – Ziegler
Stockholm 2018/19
To win the game, White must place his hopes on the pin on Black’s back rank. 38 Rcc8! 38 exf4? Nxf4+ 39 Kf1 (as played in the game; 39 Ke3 changes nothing: 39...Nd5+ 40 Ke2 Nf4+) 39...Bb4 40 Rxg8+ Kxg8 and Black should hold the draw. 38...f3+ Or: 38...Kg7 39 Rxe6 +–; 38...Rg2+ 39 Nf2!? (this move wins immediately) 39...f3+ (39...fxe3 40 Rxf8+ Kg7 41 Rg8+ +–) 40 Ke1 +–. 39 Kf1 Kg7 1,029 39...Ne7 is met by 40 Ra8 Bh6 (40...Kg7 41 Nf2 +–) 41 Rxg8+ Nxg8 42 Rxa7 +–. 40 Rxe6 + The pawns on e4 and f3 will both drop off.
Puzzle 417: White to play
Solution 417: White to play
Torngren – J.Jönsson
Stockholm 2018/19
37 Qxg7+! (not 37 Qc8+? Kh7 –+) 37...Qxg7 38 Rxg7 Rxh4+ (38...Kxg7? 39 Ne6+) 39 Kg2 (the black rook has evaded a knight fork on e6, but there is another one on f5!) 39...Rxd4 (the game featured 39...Kxg7? 40 Nf5+ +–) 40 Rxa7 with an equal position.
Puzzle 418: White to play
Solution 418: White to play
Ratnesan – D.Graham
Hastings 2018/19
White can win the knight thanks to a pin: 52 exd5++ Kxd5 53 Re5+! Kxd4 54 Re4+ Kc3 (or 54...Kc5 55 Bxc4! b3 56 Bd3 +–, as in the game) 55 Bxc4 b3 56 Bxb3 +– with an easy win. The fpawn is unstoppable.
Puzzle 419: Black to play
Solution 419: Black to play
S.Chowdhury – Srihari
Mumbai 2018/19
Even in a won position, you need to pay close attention to the opponent’s ideas. The careless 35...Qxd4? would allow White to resist by 36 Re8+! Kf7 37 Rxd8 Qe4+ 38 Qf3. After the correct 35...Qb7+! White resigned since after 36 Nf3 (36 Qf3 Rxd4 –+) 36...Rxd4 37 Qxd4 Qxf3+ –+ there is no hope any more.
Puzzle 420: White to play
Solution 420: White to play
Park Sijoon – M.Wilson
Hastings 2018/19
White achieves victory with an attractive blow: 29 Rxd7! (after 29 Rxf7? Kxf7 White has little if any real advantage) 29...Rxd7 30 Nxb6 Bxb6 31 Rxc8+ Kf7 32 Rc4 +– with a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 421: Black to play
Solution 421: Black to play
Vaishali – Nesterov
Stockholm 2018/19
With exposed kings, an exchange of queens is a vital strategic factor. 31...g5! After 31...Rxd5? 32 g3 +/– Black has major problems due to his vulnerable king. For example, 32...Qd6 33 Qc3+ Kg8 34 Rf6 or 32...c5 33 Re4 Qf5 34 Re8+. 32 Qd4 Rxd5 32...Qxd4 33 Rxd4 c6 34 Rb4 +=. 33 Qxe5+ Rxe5 with an equal position.
Puzzle 422: White to play
Solution 422: White to play
Stabulnieks – Dauth
Stockholm 2018/19
Breaking through to c7 is well worth a piece! 23 Bxb5! The right way. After 23 Nxd5?! cxd5 24 Rc7 Rxf2 White must settle for a far smaller advantage. 23...g5 23...cxb5 24 Rc7 +–. 24 Nd3 Rather than 24 Nh5?! cxb5 25 Rc7 Rxf2 26 Rxb7 Nf6 +/– with chances of a draw. 24...cxb5 25 Rc7 + White regains the piece and will win the game.
Puzzle 423: White to play
Solution 423: White to play
An.Larsen – O.Willson
Hastings 2018/19
White sees a chance to use a standard form of the Greek Gift idea, where the bishop sacrifice is followed by a knight check to open the hfile. 14 Nxf6+ Bxf6 14...gxf6!? is a slightly more stubborn defence. 15 Ng5! (15 Bh6, as played in the game, lets Black fight on with 15...f5, though White should win in the end) 15...fxg5 16 hxg5 Bxg5 17 Qh5!? (a good ‘human’ method, though the computer prefers 17 Bxh7+ Kg7 18 Qh5! Bxc1 19 Rxc1 +–) 17...h6 18 f4 +–. 15 Bxh7+! Kxh7 15...Kh8 16 Bc2 +–. 16 Ng5+ Kg8 17 Qh5 + Black will be mated.
Puzzle 424: Black to play
Solution 424: Black to play
M.Armstrong – Carulla Pons
Hastings 2018/19
It’s confusing to have so many pieces eyeing the central squares, but if you remove the queens, everything becomes much clearer: 24...Qxe2! (24...Nfd5? lets White escape by 25 Qxe7 Nxe7 26 Rxd7 =) 25 Ncxe2 Nfd5 and White loses a piece or the exchange: 26 Ne6 (26 Nxd5 Bxd4 –+; 26 Rd2 Nxf4 –+) 26...Bxd4 27 N2xd4 Re8 –+.
Puzzle 425: White to play
Solution 425: White to play
B.Stoyanov – Park Sijoon
Hastings 2018/19
The queen is unfortunately placed on d8 since after an exchange of rooks it will come under attack, allowing White to engineer a deadly discovered attack: 23 g5! Nh5 (23...Ng8 24 Bxb5 +–) 24 Bxb5! (now that the knight no longer protects d7, this tactic picks up a pawn for White) 24...Rxd2 25 Rxd2 Qc8 26 Bc4 +–.
Puzzle 426: White to play
Solution 426: White to play
Jaksland – Vestby-Ellingsen
Stockholm 2018/19
As long as White realizes he can’t take the pawn right away, he should find the way to save the game: 34 Kf2! (34 Bxf3? loses to 34...Bh3+ 35 Kf2 Bg4 –+, while in the game 34 Rxf3? Rxf3 35 Bxf3 Bh3+ 36 Kf2 Bg4 37 Re3 Kh3 –+ gave Black an easy win) 34...Rf4 (34...Bh3 35 d4! =) 35 Rg1 and White is only a little worse.
Puzzle 427: White to play
Solution 427: White to play
Ruane – Kolani
Hastings 2018/19
White’s hopes of salvation lie in the exposed position of the black king. 30 Rh3! After 30 Qxb7?, as played in the game, Black can win in several ways, of which the most precise is 30...Nxd4! 31 Rxg8 Rxg8 32 Nxd4 Qg4 –+. 30...Qxh3 30...Rxg2+ 31 Kxg2 Rg8+ 32 Kf2 (or 32 Rg3 =) 32...Qxh3 33 Qxf7+ =. 31 Qxf7+ Kh8 32 Qf6+ Kh7 33 Qf7+ = with perpetual check.
Puzzle 428: Black to play
Solution 428: Black to play
Hu Zehua – M.Popov
Tianjin 2018/19
To mate the enemy king, Black needs to deflect the white queen: 32...Rxb3!! (32...Qh3? 33 Qf1 is unclear) 33 Bxb3 Rxb3 34 Qc4 (or 34 Qxb3 Qh3, mating) 34...Qh3!? (34...Rxa3 –+) 35 Qf1 Qxf1+ 36 Kxf1 Rxa3 –+ and White soon resigned.
Puzzle 429: Black to play
Solution 429: Black to play
C.Byrn – Groffen
Hastings 2018/19
Black mustn’t allow White connected passed pawns. 34...c4+! After 34...Rxa1? 35 Nfxd5+ (as played in the game) 35...Kf7 36 bxc5 Bb8 37 Bc4 Kf8 38 Nf4 +– White’s pawns are unstoppable. 35 Kc3 35 Kb2 leads to a similar situation after 35...c3+! 36 Kxc3 (36 Kb1 c2+ is unclear) 36...Rxa1 37 Nfxd5+ Kf7 with unclear play. 35...Rxa1 36 Nfxd5+ 36 Nbxd5+ Kf7 37 Bxc4 Bxf4 is again unclear. 36...Kf7 37 Bxc4 Kf8 with a roughly equal position and practical chances for both sides.
Puzzle 430: White to play
Solution 430: White to play
Kravtsiv – Mooketsi (based on)
Kazan tt 2013
A pawn sacrifice draws the king to e7, and into a fatal skewer: 39 e7+! (not 39 Qxb7? Qd1+ =) 39...Kxe7 40 Bg5+ +–.
Puzzle 431: White to play
Solution 431: White to play
Balasubramaniam – Lugovskoi
Mumbai 2018/19
With 16 Bh6! White wins the g7pawn, after which Black’s position will be completely hopeless: 16...Nh4 (16...Qxa4 17 Nxg7 Red8 18 Qf6 +–; 16...f5 17 Bxg7 +–) 17 Qg3 (thus far as played in the game) 17...Ng6 18 Nxg7 +–.
Puzzle 432: White to play
Solution 432: White to play
P.Patil – Srihari (variation)
Mumbai 2018/19
White wins the game with a beautiful manoeuvre: 38 Nf8+ (38 Nf4? Qe4 is unclear) 38...Kh8 39 Qg6 Kg8 40 Nh7 and Black must either lose his bishop or enter a hopeless pawn ending: 40...Rd6 41 Nxf6+ +–.
Puzzle 433: Black to play
Solution 433: Black to play
Tran Minh – N.Mohammad
Mumbai 2018/19
Black can drive the white king into a fork: 18...Qd3+ 19 Kc1 (19 Ke1 Nc2+ –+) 19...Qxf1! 20 Rxf1 (20 axb4 Qxg2 –+) 20...Nd3+ –+ with an extra exchange.
Puzzle 434: White to play
Solution 434: White to play
Larmet – Laoussing
Mumbai 2018/19
The fact that the black rooks are on the same diagonal hopefully caught your eye. After 25 b5! Nb8 26 Bc5 Nd7 (26...Rc8?! 27 Bxd6 Rxc2 28 Re8+ Kf7 29 Rf8+ +– and Black loses a knight) 27 Bxd6 Qxd6 +/– White has an extra exchange and good chances to win.
Puzzle 435: White to play
Solution 435: White to play
K.Trisha – Prraneeth
Mumbai 2018/19
White’s next two moves both give check and attack a black rook: 36 Nc5+! bxc5 (36...Kc8 37 Nxe6 +–) 37 bxc5+ Ka6 38 cxd6 +– with an easy win.
Puzzle 436: White to play
Solution 436: White to play
Rebut – Wahba (based on)
Mumbai 2018/19
White needs to address Black’s threat of ...Bxg5, and this will dissolve after White exchanges rooks: 31 Rf6+ (31 exf5? Bxg5 is unclear, while 31 Rg1?! R6b2+ 32 Bxb2 Rxg1 gives Black chances to resist) 31...Kc7 32 Rxb6 Rxb6 33 exf5 +–.
Puzzle 437: Black to play
Solution 437: Black to play
B.Thipsay – Sammed Jaykumar (variation)
Mumbai 2018/19
Two checks are all it takes for Black to win: 28...Nf3+! 29 gxf3 Qg5+ 30 Kh1 Qxd2 with a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 438: White to play
Solution 438: White to play
Banerjee – Lama (variation)
Mumbai 2018/19
White wins by decoying the black king to e8, setting up a queen fork: 21 Re8+! (not 21 Re4? Nxh5 –+) 21...Qxe8 22 Rxe8+ Kxe8 23 Qa4+ Ke7 24 Qxf4 and Black’s exposed king in the centre dooms him: 24...Bd7 25 Qe3+ Kf8 26 Nd2 +–.
Puzzle 439: White to play
Solution 439: White to play
Samant – R.Prajesh
Mumbai 2018/19
39 Nd8! There’s no time to take the a5pawn because of Black’s ideas with ...Nd4: after 39 Nxa5? bxa5 40 Bxd7 Nd4 41 Bc8 Qf7! Black is fine. 39...Rxd8 39...Qa7 is met by 40 Rc7 +– or 40 Bxd7 +–. 40 Rc7+ Rf7 41 Rxb7 Rxb7 42 Rc7+ 1-0
Puzzle 440: Black to play
Solution 440: Black to play
K.Trisha – K.Varga (based on)
Mumbai 2018/19
Black creates a sudden double threat of mate and against the loose c6rook: 24...Nh3+! 25 Kh1 Qb5 (Black wins the rook and the game) 26 Nf3 Qxc6 –+.
Puzzle 441: White to play
Solution 441: White to play
M.Hasan – Vatsal (variation)
Mumbai 2018/19
White needs to find the right moment to play g3. 22 Nf4! The immediate 22 g3? fails due to 22...Qxd5 23 gxh4 Ne5 –+. 22...Rxf4 22...Nc5!? 23 g3 (23 Qg4!?) 23...Bg5 gives Black chances to resist. 23 Bxf4 Qxf4 24 g3 Qf5 24...Qg5? loses to 25 Re4 +–. 25 gxh4 Ne5 26 Rxe5 +/ with an extra pawn and chances to win.
Puzzle 442: Black to play
Solution 442: Black to play
Ruane – A.Taylor (variation)
Hastings 2018/19
The only way to win is to exploit the vulnerability of the white king: 27...Qxe1+! 28 Qxe1 Rd1 (White will lose his queen or be mated) 29 Qxd1 (29 Bxc6 Rxe1+ 30 Kg2 bxc6 –+) 29...Bxe4+ 30 Qf3 Bxf3#.
Puzzle 443: Black to play
Solution 443: Black to play
Shyam – Kathmale
Mumbai 2018/19
To break the pin, Black must first of all remove his rook from d6: 49...Rd7! (49...Qb6+? 50 Kh2 Qc6 51 Qe5 +–; 49...Qd7? 50 Qe5 +–) 50 Qxf5 Qb6+ (50...Bc6!? =) 51 Kh1 (51 Qf2 Qxf2+ = was played in the game) 51...Be6 with an equal position.
Puzzle 444: White to play
Solution 444: White to play
Puranik – Srihari
Mumbai 2018/19
37 Re8+ Bf8 (or 37...Kh7 38 Be4+ +–, while 37...Rxe8 38 Qxe8+ Kh7 39 Be4+ Kh6 can be met by 40 Qg8 +– or 40 Ne3 +–) and at first glance it seems that Black’s defences are adequate, but 38 Qe7! gives White a mating attack: 38...Nxd5 39 Qxf8+ Kh7 40 Rxd8 1-0.
Puzzle 445: White to play
Solution 445: White to play
K.Wang – Krechetov
Burlingame 2019
White needs to gain a tempo to deny Black time to play 53...h4. 53 Rc5! Not 53 Rc7? h4 =. 53...Qg6 53...Qd3 54 Rxg5+ (54 Rc7?, as played in the game, allows 54...Rf7 =) 54...Kf7 55 Qa2+ +–. 54 Rc7 Qf5 54...Qe8 55 Qa7 +–. 55 Qe1 55 h4!? gxh4 56 Bxh4 Bxd6 57 Qxf6+ +–. 55...h4 56 Qe4 + with an easy win.
Puzzle 446: Black to play
Solution 446: Black to play
Training position
Black wins because he can lure the white king into a deadly check: 1...Rxd3+! (not 1...b6? 2 Rxb6 Nxb6 3 cxb6 =) 2 Kxd3 Nxc5+ 3 Kc4 Kxd6 –+.
9: Tricky Tasks
Here we have 45 positions, all of level 3. However, you may find this substantially tougher than the equivalent chapter in Part 1 of the book, as you will have to identify the key aspects of each position on your own. This includes whether you should be playing for a win or fighting for a draw.
Puzzle 447: Black to play
Solution 447: Black to play
Li Kam – Li Yihao
Tianjin 2018/19
Before dropping the queen into d2, Black should first lay the groundwork by driving the white queen away from the e3pawn: 30...Rc8! (not 30...Qd2? 31 Bf1 =) 31 Qb4 a5! 32 Qb3 (32 Qb5 Qd2–+) 32...Qd2 and White’s position is falling apart. For example: 33 Ra2 (or 33 Bf1 Rc2 –+, as played in the game) 33...Qc1+ 34 Bf1 Bd5 –+.
Puzzle 448: White to play
Solution 448: White to play
Zhao Yuanhe – Zhang Lanlin (based on)
Tianjin 2018/19
With Black’s pieces bunched up on the queenside, it is natural for White to attack on the kingside: 30 g6! (30 Be4? gives Black time to shore up his defences with 30...g6 =) 30...fxg6 31 Be4 +– and Black lacks defensive resources. Here are some sample lines: 31...Rf8 (31...b4 32 Qg5 Rxd4 33 Qxg6 Rxd3 34 Rxd3 +–) 32 Rg3!? (slightly weaker is 32 Bxg6 Qd5 33 Qg3) 32...Qa2 33 Rf1 Qc4 (33...Rf6 34 Rxg6 +–) 34 Qg5!? (not the only way to win, but the most beautiful) 34...Rf6 35 Bxg6 Qd5 (35...Qxd4 36 Qxh5 +–) 36 Qxf6 gxf6 37 Be4+ +–.
Puzzle 449: White to play
Solution 449: White to play
Banik – J.Wang (variation)
Burlingame 2019
To win the game, White just needs to find a way to advance his a pawn: 37 Rb6! (after 37 Rxe6? Ng5! 38 Rd6?! e4 White must fight for a draw) 37...Rc2 (37...Nc5 38 Nxe5 +–; 37...Rc3 38 Rxc3 dxc3 39 a6 +–) 38 a6 Nxf2 39 Nxf2 Rcxf2 40 a7 +– with a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 450: White to play
Solution 450: White to play
Kishor – Triton
Mumbai 2018/19
With the rook on a8 defended, playing Ra1 achieves nothing. But if that rook can be driven away, then things will be different... 26 Bc6! Ra6 27 Bb7 Ra7 (the game featured 27...Nb4 28 Bxa6 +–) 28 Bd5+ with an easy win: 28...e6 (28...Kg7 29 Ra1 +–) 29 Bxe6+ Kg7 30 Rxd6 +– (or 30 Ra1!? +–).
Puzzle 451: White to play
Solution 451: White to play
Ostrovskiy – Nagarajan
Burlingame 2019
After 30 Rxf6! gxf6 31 Qxh5 +– the black rooks are in no position to defend their king. Following 31...Nh7 32 Ng4 Rf8 33 Re3 f5 34 Nh6+ Kh8 35 Nxf5 +– Black soon resigned.
Puzzle 452: Black to play
Solution 452: Black to play
M.Rahman – M.Hasan (variation)
Mumbai 2018/19
After a couple of crisp blows, it turns out that the key tactical weakness in White’s position is a loose rook on a1! 31...Bxf4! 31...Rxc5? is the wrong moveorder since 32 dxc5 Bxf4 33 Kh3 is just unclear. 32 Rxf4 32 gxf4? Qxh4+ 33 Kg1 Qg3+ 34 Qg2 Qxg2#. 32...Rxc5 –+ with an extra pawn and a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 453: White to play
Solution 453: White to play
Y.Liou – C.Jones
Burlingame 2019
Black is about to start pounding on g2, so White needs to drive the queen from d5. 24 c4! 24 Qxb7? Rg8 25 g4 (25 g3 Bxg3 –+) 25...Qf3 –+. 24...Rxe1+ 24...Qxd4 25 Rxe6!? (simpler than 25 Qxf7 Rxe1+ 26 Bxe1! Re2!? 27 Rc1!, with unclear play) 25...fxe6 26 Qf7 (26 Qxb7!?) 26...Rg8 27 Be1!? Qxd1 28 Qxf6+ with perpetual check. 25 Bxe1 Retaining the rooks is more accurate than 25 Rxe1?! Rxe1+ 26 Bxe1 Bxc7 27 cxd5, when a draw was agreed in the game, even though Black is somewhat better in this bishop ending. 25...Bxc7 A key tactical point in White’s favour is 25...Qxd4?! 26 Qxd6 (26 Qxf7 is also OK) 26...Rxe1+ 27 Kh2, when Black must exchange queens with equality since 27...Rxd1?? allows 28 Qf8#. 26 cxd5 cxd5 27 Bb4 White clearly has no problems in this ending, with his ‘good’ bishop and active rook coming to the cfile.
Puzzle 454: White to play
Solution 454: White to play
Senthil – Anuj
Mumbai 2018/19
Black’s pieces are poorly placed to break a pin on the f6knight, so White needs to open the long a1h8 diagonal without delay: 21 d5! Qc8!? (taking on d5 loses immediately: 21...cxd5?! 22 g4 e5 23 fxe5 dxe5 24 Qxe5 Re8 25 Qd4 +–, while the game featured 21...exd5?! 22 g4 d4 23 Qxd4 +–) 22 g4 (22 Bh3!? +/–) 22...e5 23 fxe5 dxe5 (23...Qxg4+ 24 Bg2 dxe5 25 Qxe5 +–) and now several moves lead to a big advantage, the simplest being 24 Qxe5 Re8 25 Qf4 Rxe1 26 Rxe1 cxd5 27 g5 and White is close to victory.
Puzzle 455: White to play
Solution 455: White to play
Zhang Lanlin – D.Stones
Tianjin 2018/19
Black would be more than OK if he could get his knight to e4, so White must find a way to prevent this. 20 g4! (rather than 20 c4? Qg7 =+ {as played in the game} or 20 Bd2? Nf6 21 Rae1 Ne4 =+) 20...fxg4 (even worse is 20...Nf6? 21 gxf5 gxf5 22 Bxf5 +–, while 20...Qc7 is well met by 21 Qh4!? {also good is 21 Nxe6 Bxe6 22 Rxe6 fxg4 23 Qxg4 +/–} 21...fxg4 22 Bd2 +/–, when 22...Bxf4?! loses to 23 Bxf4 Rxf4 24 g3! Rf8 {24...Rf6 25 Bb5 Nd6 and everything is set up for 26 Nxh7!} 25 Rh2, crashing through on the hfile) 21 Qxg4 Nf6 22 Qh4 +/– with a large advantage. White plans Bd2 and Rae1, and will meet 22...Nh5 with the simple 23 g3.
Puzzle 456: Black to play
Solution 456: Black to play
Huang Renjie – Jiang Qinyu (based on)
Tianjin 2018/19
Black mustn’t let White establish his knight on f5. 32...Nb4? fails for that reason: after 33 Nh4 Kg8 (33...Kf8 34 Nf5 +–) 34 Nf5 Rh7 35 Rf1 +– the f5knight is too strong, and White should win. Also bad is 32...Nd8? 33 Nh4 Kh8 34 Rf1 Rxf1+ 35 Qxf1 +–. So Black should play 32...Nd4! 33 Nxd4 exd4 34 Rxd4 Ref7 with fairly good compensation for the pawn.
Puzzle 457: Black to play
Solution 457: Black to play
Gu Tianlu – Li Yihao
Tianjin 2018/19
Black must target the a4pawn before White can support it with his king. 43...Qe8! This is better than: a) 43...Qa8?! 44 cxd4 Qxa4 45 Nc2 +/–. b) 43...Qe1+? 44 Kc2 dxc3 45 bxc3 (played in the game) 45...Qe8 (45...Qa1 46 Kb3 +–) 46 Kb3 +–. 44 a5 Not 44 cxd4? Qe1+ –+. 44...dxc3 45 bxc3 Qa4 46 Qc4 Qxa5 with a roughly equal position.
Puzzle 458: Black to play
Solution 458: Black to play
Percivaldi – Luukkonen
Stockholm 2018/19
White is looking to promote his hpawn, but Black wins by creating mate threats. 40...Qd5! Not: 40...Qxd3? 41 Bxe4 Qe3 42 h7 Bc5 43 Qe5+! +–; 40...e5? 41 Bf5 Bf8 42 Qxf8 (as played in the game) with an unclear position. 41 Bxe4 Other moves also offer no hope: 41 Nf2 e3 42 Ne4 e2 –+; 41 Bg6 exd3 42 h7 Be5 –+. 41...Qh5+ 42 Kg1 cxd3 43 Bxd3 43 h7 Bc5+ 44 Kf1 Qh1#. 43...Be5 –+ with an extra bishop and a mating attack.
Puzzle 459: White to play
Solution 459: White to play
Chu Ruotong – Dai Changren
Tianjin 2018/19
White generates a sudden counterattack. 28 Qxc7+ After 28 Qd2?, as played in the game, Black wins rather easily with 28...e3 –+. 28...Kg6 29 Rxd3! Without this move, White would be losing. 29 Kb1? Rxa2! and now 30 Kxa2 Ra8+ –+ or 30 Rxd3 Qa8 –+. 29...Qf5 Or 29...Qg5+ 30 Re3 Rhc8 31 Qd6 Rxa2 (31...Rd8?! 32 h4 +–) 32 b4 +/–, when with the queen on g5, Black can’t make much impact on the white king. Then 32...Rca8?! is bad due to 33 Qxe6 +–. 30 Rd2 Qxf2 30...Rhc8?! 31 Qf4 Qxc5+ 32 Kb1 +–. 31 e3 Qxe3 32 Qf4 with a large advantage and excellent winning chances.
Puzzle 460: Black to play
Solution 460: Black to play
Wang Puxuan – Li Kam
Tianjin 2018/19
Black needs to open some paths to the white king. 38...Qh4! Not: a) 38...Kh7?! 39 Rd7 Qe8 (39...Qh4? 40 g3 +–) 40 Rxa7 +/–. b) 38...c4? (as played in the game) 39 Rd7! Qc5 (39...c3 40 Qd1 c2 41 Rd8+ +–) 40 Rd8+ Kh7 41 Qd1 Kg6 42 Rh8 +– with a mating attack. 39 g3 Qe7 Black is fine thanks to the possible check on e2: 40 Rd7 (40 h4 c4 =) 40...Re2+ 41 Qxe2 Qxd7 =.
Puzzle 461: White to play
Solution 461: White to play
C.Hunt – D.Stones
Tianjin 2018/19
Black’s decision to move both rooks off his back rank should have cost him dear. 28 Qc5! In the game White mistakenly exchanged queens, which left him substantially worse. 28...b6 Or: a) 28...Rg8 29 Qxa7 +–. b) 28...Kb8 29 d5!? (slightly weaker is 29 Qf8+ Qc8 30 Qxf7 Ng8 +/–) 29...cxd5 30 Qf8+ Qc8 31 Qxf7 +–. 29 Qf8+ Kb7 30 d5! This key breakthrough leads to victory. The less incisive 30 Qh8 f4 31 Qxh4 R3g5 +/– allows Black chances to draw. 30...Rg8 After 30...cxd5 31 cxd5 Rg8 (31...Nxd5 32 Rxd5 +–) 32 Qa3 + taking the d5pawn is fatal, but it is also too dangerous to leave it alive. 31 dxc6+ Kxc6 32 Qh6 R3g6 33 Qxh4 + with an extra pawn and a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 462: Black to play
Solution 462: Black to play
An.Larsen – O.Willson
Hastings 2018/19
Black can repel White’s threats by using a somewhat unusual manoeuvre. 25...Rh8! And with that, White’s attack is immediately over. Instead 25...Qd7? 26 Rxg4 fxg4 27 Bg5+ gives White enough compensation for the exchange: 27...Kg7 (27...Kg8 28 Bxf6 += was played in the game) 28 Qh6+ is unclear. The game is also unclear after 25...dxc3? 26 Rxg4 Qd3+ 27 Kg1 fxg4 28 Bg5+. 26 f3 Qe8 –+ Or 26...Bxh4 27 Bg5+ Kg7 –+.
Puzzle 463: White to play
Solution 463: White to play
Spanton – Rahulan (variation)
Hastings 2018/19
White pinpoints the surprising vulnerability of the c7pawn: 22 Qa5! b6?! (this obvious way to parry the attack fails tactically; while not instantly losing, 22...Bd7 23 Qxc7 +/– is of course miserable for Black) 23 Ne7+! (White must be accurate, since the more obvious version of the same idea, 23 Nxb6?, fails due to 23...c6! –/+) 23...Kf8 24 Qd5 Qxe7 25 Qxa8 with a decisive advantage for White.
Puzzle 464: Black to play
Solution 464: Black to play
J.Trevelyan – V.Stefansson
Hastings 2018/19
Often three pawns can be worth as much as a minor piece. But that can only be the case for White here if he preserves his lightsquared bishop, so to find the right move, Black must take that into account. 16...Nxh7! After 16...Kh8? 17 Bxf3 Bf5 (as played in the game) White can play 18 Qg5!? with an unclear position, while in the case of 16...Kxh7?! 17 Qc2+! Kg8 18 Bxf3 =+ Black’s advantage is far smaller than it could have been. 17 Bxf3 Ng5 The knight check on h3 will cause White’s position to collapse: 18 Bg2 Nh3+ 19 Bxh3 (19 Kh1 Be6 –+; 19 Kf1 Bf5 –+) 19...Bxh3 with a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 465: White to play
Solution 465: White to play
Gu Tianlu – Chen Fan
Tianjin 2018/19
Since White can’t take on d6, he needs to support the e5pawn. 27 Re1! After 27 Kxa3? dxe5 28 Bd2 (28 Bh2 Qxc3 –+) 28...e4 (as played in the game) White’s position is falling apart: 29 Nd4 Qa5+ 30 Kb2 Bxd4 –+. 27...Re6! Now the game ends by force in a draw, but after other moves Black risks being worse: 27...Qa5?! 28 Bd2 Re6 (28...dxe5? 29 Nxe5 Bxe5 30 Rxe5 +–) 29 Nd4! Rxe5 30 Rxe5 dxe5 31 Nc6! Qb6 32 Bxd5 +/ with a large advantage. 28 Kxa3 dxe5 28...Qc5+?! 29 Kb2 Qf2+ 30 Qc2 +/–. 1,139 29 Bxe5 Bxe5 30 Nxe5 Qxc3 30...d4 31 Nxd7 Qa5+ 32 Kb2 Qxc3+ 33 Ka3 Qa5+ =. 31 Nxd7 and the game should end in perpetual check: 31...Qxe1 (31...Qa5+ 32 Kb2 Qd2+ =) 32 Nb6+ Kb7 33 Qxd5+ Kxb6 34 Qd8+ Kc5 35 Qd5+ Kb6 =.
Puzzle 466: White to play
Solution 466: White to play
Guan Runpei – Lu Miaoyi
Tianjin 2018/19
Black’s main problem is the unfortunate position of his queen on a8, but White has only a fleeting opportunity to exploit this factor. 22 Rxd8+! Not: a) 22 Bxc5? (as played in the game) 22...Rxd5! 23 Rxd5 Bxc5 =. b) 22 Qxb6? Rxd5 23 Rxd5 Qxd5 24 Qxa7 Bd6! gives Black quite good compensation. 25 g3 is met by 25...f6. 22...Bxd8 23 Bxc5 bxc5 23...Bxg5 24 Qxb6 +–. 24 Nxf7! Rxf7 25 Rd7 + White wins since the bishop on d8 is blocking the queen.
Puzzle 467: Black to play
Solution 467: Black to play
Maisuradze – Wang Zijian
Tianjin 2018/19
Black’s target is the white king and his priority should be to deprive it of flightsquares. 17...Bf5! 17...Kd7? is bad due to 18 Kc2 Rxa8 19 Kb3 +–, while 17...Nc3+? 18 Kc2 Ne4 (as played in the game) is met by 19 Bd3! Nxg3 20 Rb1! (after 20 hxg3? Kd7 21 Rb1 Rb8! Black is suddenly saved: 22 Bxh7 a5 is unclear) 20...Bd6 21 hxg3 +–. 18 Nh4 Or: 18 Ba6 Kd7 –/+; 18 Nc7? Nc3+ 19 Ke1 Ne4+ 20 Kd1 Nxg3 –+. 18...Bb1 A little more complicated is 18...Nc3+!? 19 Kc1 Ba3+ 20 Kd2 Ne4+ 21 Kd1 Nxg3 22 hxg3 Be4 with unclear play. 19 Nc7 Nc3+ 20 Kd2 Not 20 Kc1? Ba3+ 21 Kd2 Ne4+ 22 Ke1 Nxg3 –+. 20...Na2+ The double check 20...Ne4++? is wrong due to 21 Kc1 +–. 21 Ke2 Nc3+ 22 Kd2 = with a repetition of moves (and not 22 Kf3? g5 –+).
Puzzle 468: Black to play
Solution 468: Black to play
Santanna – Kiewra
Burlingame 2019
Black could have suddenly seized a large advantage with 15...Nd3! 16 exd3 (16 Nxf5 Nxb2 17 Nd6+ Kc7 18 Rdc1 Kxd6 –/+ and Black will be a pawn up once he has been forced to play ...Nxc4) 16...Bxd4, when White has a bad game due to the weak d3pawn. After 17 Na4 (or 17 Bf1 Ne5 18 Rac1 Rd7 –/+) 17...Ne5 18 Bf1 g5 Black’s advantage is close to decisive due to the wretched locations of the white pieces.
Puzzle 469: White to play
Solution 469: White to play
D.Fryer – C.Metcalfe (variation)
Hastings 2018/19
White is running out of pieces, so his only chance of salvation lies in the exposed black king. 31 Rb8! Nxb8 31...Bf8 32 Rxf8 (after 32 h7 Rg7 33 Rxf8+ Nxf8 34 Qxf8+ Kxh7 35 Qf6! = White is also saved by a miracle as Black can’t hide his king anywhere) 32...Nxf8 33 Qf6+ Kh7 34 Qe7+ (34 Qf7+? Kxh6 –+) 34...Kxh6 35 Qh4+ Kg7 36 Qf6+ with perpetual check. 32 Qf6+ Kh7 33 Qf7+ Kxh6 34 Qf6+ Kh7 34...Rg6?? 35 Qh8#. 35 Qh4+! But not 35 Qf7+? Rg7 36 Qh5+ Kg8 –+. 35...Kg6 36 Qf6+ = with perpetual check.
Puzzle 470: White to play
Solution 470: White to play
L.Butt – Royal
Hastings 2018/19
In the game, White was scared to walk into a pin, and missed the path to victory. 38 Rxe5 White should have played this, as the tactics work in his favour. And not 38 Kh1? Bxd4 (38...Bf7!? is unclear) 39 cxd4 Kg7 with a roughly equal position. 38...Qd6 39 Nc6! After 39 Nf3? Bf7 = Black survives because the knight is blocking the g2bishop. 39...Qxc6 39...Bf7 40 Bxd5 +–. 40 Rxd5! The surest way to win. White should certainly avoid 40 Bxd5? Qd6 41 Bxe6+ Kh8! += and 40 Rxe6? Rxe6 41 Bxd5 Qd6+ 42 Kg2 h6!, when with precise play Black can hang on. The only worthy alternative is the exchange of queens: 40 Qb5!? Qxb5 41 axb5 d4 42 b6 +– also keeps a decisive advantage. 40...Bf5 40...Bf7 41 Rd8 +–. 41 Re5 Qd6 42 Qd5+ with an easy win.
Puzzle 471: White to play
Solution 471: White to play
M.Wilson – Heinsohn
Hastings 2018/19
It should be obvious that White can’t take on a6 at once, but the game in fact ended 23 Qxa6? Rh5 01. The correct path is: 23 Rxa7! Bc8 24 Qc7! (now Black can’t protect the bishop because of the pin) 24...Re8 25 Ra8 Bd7 26 Ra7 (or 26 Rd8 Bc6 27 Rc8! =) 26...Bc8 27 Ra8 with a repetition of moves.
Puzzle 472: White to play
Solution 472: White to play
Kravtsiv – Linster
Pardubice rapid 2012
26 Bc4! Now Black does not have time to break the pin, and loses. After 26 Be4? (as played in the game) 26...Rad8 Black is OK, as there is no need to fear the check on h7. Both 27 Nc2 Bg5 and 27 Nc4 Qxb4 28 Nxe5 Bxe5 are unclear. 26...Kf8 Or 26...Re7 27 Rad1 (27 Bxf7+!? +–) 27...Qxb4 28 Bxe5 +–. 27 Bxf7 Kxf7 28 Nc4 +
Puzzle 473: Black to play
Solution 473: Black to play
M.Markov – Kravtsiv (variation)
Kazan tt 2013
There are two tempting moves, but only one leads to victory. 29...Rxb2! Not 29...Qa2? 30 Rcc1 Rxf3 31 Qh5! Rxb2 32 Rxb2 Qxb2 33 Qxf3 with a drawn position. After 29...Rxf3?! 30 Rxf3 Qxe4 31 Rbf1 Rxb2 Black’s advantage is insufficient for victory. White can play 32 Rf8+ Kh7 33 Qa8, and with further accurate play will hold the game. 30 Rxb2 30 Ra1 Rd8!? leaves White’s king defenceless; e.g., 31 Qxc7 Qd5 +, 31 Rxc7 Qa2 –+ or 31 Re3 Rdd2 –+. 30...Qxe4! 1,152 with irresistible threats: 31 Kf2 (31 Rc1 Qe3+ –+) 31...Qd4+ 32 Re3 Qxb2+ –+.
Puzzle 474: Black to play
Solution 474: Black to play
T.Anton – Kravtsiv
Kazan tt 2013
22...Qb2! 23 Qc3 Rfe8 White’s position falls apart because of the mating threats. 24 Rd1 24 c6 Bxc6 –+. 24...Rcd8 25 Rxd8 Or 25 Rf1 Qe2 26 c6 Bc8 27 Na3 Rd3 –+. 25...Rxd8 26 c6 Rd1+ 0-1
Puzzle 475: Black to play
Solution 475: Black to play
Cline – Gaffagan
Burlingame 2019
The immediate capture on g5 loses. Black should first reinforce his f4knight. 42...h4! After 42...Kxg5? 43 g3 Ng6 44 Bh3 Rd6 (44...Re8 45 Ra6 +–) 45 f4+ Kf6 46 Nf2 +– the pawn on f4 greatly restricts the black pieces, giving White a decisive advantage. 46...h4 is well met by 47 Ra7. 43 g3 43 Ra7 Nd7 +=. 43...hxg3 44 Nxg3 Kxg5 Black is only slightly worse, and the game should certainly end in a draw.
Puzzle 476: White to play
Solution 476: White to play
Swiercz – C.Yoo (variation)
Burlingame 2019
32 Nf5! Moving the king by 32 Kh2? is wrong, as it gives Black time to activate his pieces. 32...Ng4+ 33 Kg1 Qxe5 leaves the game unclear. 32...Nxf5 After 32...gxf5 33 Rc6 Qxe5 34 Qxh6 Black’s game is hopeless in view of White’s mating threats. For example: 34...fxe4 35 Rcf6!? Re8 36 R1f4 +–. 33 exf5 Qxe5 34 b6 Rb8 35 Rc6 White is winning because Black can’t bring his h8rook into play. 35...Qb5 is well met by 36 Qf4 Qxf5+ 37 Qxf5 gxf5 38 Rxf5 +–.
Puzzle 477: White to play
Solution 477: White to play
Hilby – Sevian (variation)
Burlingame 2019
White wins the game with a nice tactical blow: 22 Nxe5! Bxe5 23 Rxd7 Kxd7 (23...Qxd7 24 Qxe5+ Qe6 25 Qxh8+ Ke7 26 Qc3 +–) 24 Qxe5 (Black is lost because his king is too weak) 24...Kc8 25 Rd1 Qe8 (25...Qf8 26 Rd6 +–) 26 Qc5+ Kb8 27 Bf3 with irresistible threats. 27...Ra7 is well met by 28 Qb6 Ka8 29 Nd5 +–.
Puzzle 478: Black to play
Solution 478: Black to play
Colas – Hevia (variation)
Burlingame 2019
The main thing is not to miss the threat against f7: 50...Rc8! (50...Ra1? walks into 51 Rxf7+! Kxf7 52 Nf6+ Ke7 53 Qc7+ with mate in three more moves) 51 Qxc8 (51 Qd3 Rc1 –+; 51 Rxf7+ Kxf7 52 Qxc8 Qf2+ 53 Kh1 Ng3#) 51...Qxe2+ 52 Kg1 Qxf3 with a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 479: White to play
Solution 479: White to play
Snape – D.Fowler (variation)
Hastings 2018/19
White’s game is hopeless unless he can find an effective tactical blow. 25 Bxd5! After 25 Qf5? g6 26 Qxf7 Rb8 White loses because there is no check on f6: 27 Qf3 Bf4 28 Bxd5 Bxg5 –+. 25...cxd5 26 Qf5 Not 26 Qh5? h6 27 Nxf7+ Rxf7+ 28 Qxf7 Rf8 –+. 26...g6 27 Qxf7! Rxf7+ 27...b6 28 h3!? is a funny position where the rook can’t move from d8, and Black has no way to strengthen his game. 28...Red7 29 Ke2 Re7+ =. 1,161 28 Nxf7+ Kg7 29 Nxd8 with an equal endgame.
Puzzle 480: White to play
Solution 480: White to play
A.Gandhi – Regmi (based on)
Mumbai 2018/19
White wins with the help of a rook sacrifice. 30 Rxg6+! hxg6 31 Qxg6+ Kh8 32 Re3! White needs to bring his rook into the attack while the king is still on h8. He gains nothing from 32 Qh6+ Kg8 33 Qg6+ (33 Re3?? Bxe5 34 Rxe5 Qf6 –+) 33...Kh8. 32...Qe7 32...Bxe5 33 Rxe5 +–. 33 Qh5+ Or 33 Rg3!? +–. 33...Kg8 33...Qh7 34 Bxf6+ +–. 34 Rg3+ Bg7 35 Rxg7+ + with an easy win.
Puzzle 481: White to play
Solution 481: White to play
Soham – Banerjee
Mumbai 2018/19
20 Ra5! Targeting the awkwardlyplaced black queen on h5. Instead after 20 Nxd5? Qxd5 21 Qxd5 Bxd5 the pawn on e7 brings White no particular advantage. For example, 22 Rad1 Bc6 23 Bd6 Bxb2 is unclear. 20...Nxc3 No better is 20...Bxc3 21 bxc3 (played in the game) 21...Rac8 (21...Nxc3 22 Qd2 Nb5 23 g4 +–) 22 g4 Qh4 23 Rxd5 +–. 21 bxc3 b5 22 Bd6 + If Black takes on c3, then he will lose the a7pawn: 22...Bc4 23 Rg1 Bxc3 24 f4.
Puzzle 482: Black to play
Solution 482: Black to play
Lama – Subrota
Mumbai 2018/19
Black’s main problem is that the h5pawn is vulnerable. 14...Kg8! The attempt to defend the pawn directly with 14...Rh8? falls apart due to 15 e5 Nd5 16 Nxh5+ +– (as played in the game). 14...Kh7? loses to 15 e5 Nfd7 16 Qxh5+ +–. 15 e5?! Slightly better is 15 00!? Ng4 +=. 15...Ng4! With h6 covered, Black has solved all his problems. Not 15...Nd5?? 16 Qh6 +–.
Puzzle 483: Black to play
Solution 483: Black to play
M.Hasan – Vatsal
Mumbai 2018/19
Black roots the white king out of his shelter thanks to a pin: 29...Qc5! 29...Rxf3? 30 Kh1 is unclear. 30 Qb4 30 Qb2 Nxd3 –+. 30...Qc1+ 31 Kf2 31 Qe1 Qxe1+ 32 Rxe1 Nxf3+ –+. 31...h4! Rather than grabbing an exchange, Black ruins the white king’s defences. In the game 31...Ng4+? 32 Rxg4 hxg4 33 Qxg4 led to unclear play, while after 31...Qd1 32 Qe1 Ng4+ 33 Rxg4 Black faces a lengthy battle to exploit his extra exchange. 32 Nf1 h3 –+
Puzzle 484: White to play
Solution 484: White to play
Nagarajan – A.Grabinsky
Burlingame 2019
With a few forcing moves, White can achieve a strategically won game. 22 b4! Rc7 23 b5 axb5 After 23...Re8 24 a5!? (24 Nc6 +/–) 24...bxa5!? 25 b6 Rc5 26 Nb3 Black must give up the exchange since 26...Rf5?! fails to 27 c5 dxc5 28 Nxa5 +–. 24 axb5 Bf8 24...Rxc4 25 Nc6 +–. 25 Nc6 Re8 This was played in the game. Now 26 Ra2 gives White an almost decisive advantage thanks to his powerful knight on c6.
Puzzle 485: White to play
Solution 485: White to play
Saidy – Polavaram
Burlingame 2019
White clearly shouldn’t allow Black to shore up his defences by playing ...g6. 26 g6+! Kxg6 Slightly better is the modest 26...Ke7 27 Qh5 Kd8 28 Nxf5 +/–. 27 Qh5+ Kf6 28 Nxf5! The imprecise 28 Qg5+?! Kf7 29 Nxf5 Qe6! 30 Ra2 Ne4 leaves Black fine. 28...Nxf5 29 Qg5+ Kf7 30 Bxf5 Qd6 31 Ra2 This was played in the game. White is close to victory thanks to his powerful bishop on f5, and 31...Qf6 is well met by 32 Rg2 Qxg5 33 fxg5 +–.
Puzzle 486: White to play
Solution 486: White to play
J.Williams – T.Kung
Burlingame 2019
If White can remove the knight from a5, then the c4bishop will be left undefended. 18 Bd2! White gains nothing from 18 Qc3?! f5 19 Bxb7 Rxe1+ 20 Nxe1 Nxb7 21 Qxc4+ Qf7, with unclear play. 18...Nb3 19 Qxc4 19 Bxb7 Nxa1 20 Qxc4 Rxe1+ 21 Bxe1 Rb8 –/+. 19...Nxa1 As of right now, White has given up the exchange, but the knight will not escape from a1. After 20 Qd3!? (20 Qa2 Bxa3 21 Qxa1?! +/ was played in the game) 20...Rxe4 (20...Bxa3 21 Rxa1 Bb4 22 Bxb7 +–) 21 Rxe4 Re8 (21...Bxa3 22 Re1 Bb2 23 Rb1 +–) 22 Rxe8 Qxe8 23 Qc3 White will take the knight, with a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 487: White to play
Solution 487: White to play
Daggupati – Ruiz Castillo
Burlingame 2019
White can launch an attack on the black king by exploiting the fact that the black queen is undefended. 36 f5! Nxe4 36...exf5 37 Re7+! Rxe7 38 Rxe7+ Kxe7 39 Qxc6 +–. 37 fxg6++ 37 fxe6++!? +– is another idea. 37...Ke7 Or 37...Kxg6 38 Qxh5+ Kh7 39 Qf7+, mating. 38 Nxe4 The simplest, though there are other winning moves. For instance, 38 Qf7+ Kd8 39 Nxe4 +– was played in the game. 38...Rf8 39 Bf6+ Ke8 40 Rd1 Black has no defence against the deadly threat of 41 Nd6+.
Puzzle 488: White to play
Solution 488: White to play
A.Lee – Ynojosa (variation)
Burlingame 2019
Black has some very active pieces, so it makes sense for White to exchange them off. 37 Bxg4! After 37 Rg3? Be6 38 Rxg5+ Bxg5 –+ White’s pieces are too passive. 37...Rxg4+ 38 Qxg4+! Not 38 Rg3? Rxg3+ 39 fxg3 Qh3 –+. 38...Qxg4+ 39 Rg3 Qxg3+ 40 fxg3 with a playable game and roughly level chances.
Puzzle 489: Black to play
Solution 489: Black to play
D.Boros – Stukopin (variation)
Burlingame 2019
48...Rf5! Now White can’t keep control of both g2 and h5. Not 48...Rg2? 49 Qf6+ =. 49 Qe4 Qxh2+! 50 Kxh2 Rh5+ 51 Qh4 Rxh4#
Puzzle 490: Black to play
Solution 490: Black to play
Macieja – Negi (variation)
Burlingame 2019
Black must attack without delay to deny White the chance to return the exchange by 29 Rxb4, eliminating a key attacking piece. 28...Bh6! After 28...Rb7? 29 Rxb4! Rxb4 30 b3 White is OK. The game is unclear after 30...Rd4+ 31 Rd3 or 30...Bh6 31 Bxh6 Qxh6+ 32 Kd1. 29 Qe3 Rd8+! 30 Bxd8 30 Kc3 Nd5+ –+. 30...Bxe3+ 31 fxe3 31 Rxe3 Qb1 –+. 31...Qb1 –+ with an easy win.
Puzzle 491: White to play
Solution 491: White to play
A.Hong – Javakhadze
Burlingame 2019
Rather than grabbing the g7pawn, White should set his sights higher, as he can win in a few moves. 37 Bxe5! 37 Qh8+? Ke7 38 Qxg7+ Kd6 =. 37...fxe5 37...Qe7 38 Bg3 +–. 38 Qh8+ Ke7 39 Qh4+ 1-0 Black loses his queen after 39...Ke8 40 Bg6+ +–.
10: Endgame Challenges
Next up are 66 endgame exercises. Like the endgame chapter in Part 1, the difficulty starts at level 1, but then ramps up quickly. And this time it goes all the way up to level 5: the last 12 puzzles all have our top difficulty rating. Calculate well!
Puzzle 492: White to play
Solution 492: White to play
D.Fowler – M.Wilson
Hastings 2018/19
If White is to keep any winning chances, he needs to stop Black blocking the centre by playing 29...d5. So he must play 29 d5! (29 Ke3? d5 =) 29...Kd7 30 Ke3 Kc7 31 Kd4 +– with an easy win.
Puzzle 493: White to play
Solution 493: White to play
Willow – Gu In
Hastings 2018/19
With the black knight so far away and the black king awkwardly lodged on the edge of the board, White can launch a mating attack: 43 Kf4! g5+ 44 Kf3 1-0. 44...g4+ 45 Kf4 d4 46 Ng6#.
Puzzle 494: White to play
Solution 494: White to play
Kavinda – Banerjee
Mumbai 2018/19
Once you’ve realized White has no winning chances, the main thing is to keep the black king out. After 52 a5! (not 52 axb5+? axb5 53 Ke2 Kb6 –+, when the king moves in to b4) the game was agreed drawn as not much can happen as long as Black keeps his king on the queenside; e.g., 52...Kd6 53 Kd2 Kc6 (53...Ke6?? 54 cxb5 +–) 54 Kd3 =.
Puzzle 495: White to play
Solution 495: White to play
Chylewski – Tomczak (variation)
Krako 2018/19
A sacrifice deflects the black rook, allowing the pawn to queen: 47 Rc7+! Rxc7 48 e8Q +–.
Puzzle 496: White to play
Solution 496: White to play
A.Katz – Le Quang (variation)
Burlingame 2019
The king is an unreliable defender of the other pieces, as at the slightest hint of trouble it must save its own skin: 59 h4+! Kg4 60 Ne2 +–.
Puzzle 497: White to play
Solution 497: White to play
Santarius – Piasetski
Burlingame 2019
As often happens, the game is decided by a single tempo: 53 Rg5+! 1-0 (not 53 Rf5? Rd8! with a drawn position: 54 Kg7 Rd7+ 55 Kg6 Rd8 =) 53...Kh2 54 Rf5 Kg2 55 Kg7 +–.
Puzzle 498: Black to play
Solution 498: Black to play
Ampie – G.Free
Burlingame 2019
Black can trap the knight on h5 since the white king must hold back the queenside pawns: 46...Ne2! 47 Kd3 (47 Kb3 Kg6 –+) 47...b3 48 f4 Kg6 –+ and it’s time for White to resign.
Puzzle 499: Black to play
Solution 499: Black to play
Raahul – Nayem
Mumbai 2018/19
The a5bishop is protected only by the rook on e5, and it can be driven away: 56...f6! (only not 56...Bxd4? 57 Rd5+ +–) 57 Bxb6!? (after the weaker 57 Rd5+?! Ke6 58 Bxb6 Kxd5 Black has chances to win) 57...fxe5 58 a5 and White should hold the draw without much difficulty.
Puzzle 500: Black to play
Solution 500: Black to play
Lyell – Leenhouts
Hastings 2018/19
Black mustn’t allow the white king time to get in front of the pawns: 58...c3+! (58...a3? 59 Rh1 c3+ 60 Kc1 +–) 59 Rxc3 b2 60 Rd3+ (60 Kc2 b1Q+ =) 60...Kc4 61 Rc3+ Kd4 ½-½ with a repetition of moves.
Puzzle 501: White to play
Solution 501: White to play
Das – Mohite
Mumbai 2018/19
Taking a pawn with check feels natural, but would throw away the win here: after 42 Rxh7+? Kb8 there’s no way to stop the black c pawn, and after 43 Rh6 Kb7 = it is a draw. But after 42 Ra6! Black resigned in view of 42...c2 43 Ra1 +–.
Puzzle 502: Black to play
Solution 502: Black to play
Li Yihao – Wu Huanghui
Tianjin 2018/19
Black must dislocate White’s h and gpawns so that the g4pawn cannot be defended: 46...h3! (after 46...Kf4? 47 h3 Kg3 48 g5 Black will have to play a little carefully just to make sure of the draw) 47 Kb3 Kf4 48 Kxa3 Kxg4 0-1. After 49 Kb3 Kxf5 –+ it’s an easy win.
Puzzle 503: White to play
Solution 503: White to play
Mendonca – G.Lund
Stockholm 2018/19
In the endgame, mate is a rare but sometimes vital theme. 36 Ra6! d4 (36...Nb6 37 bxc5 Rxc5 38 Rxa7 +–) 37 Rxg6 (37 f4+ Kd5 38 Rxg6 is likely to transpose) 37...dxe3 (after 37...cxb4 both 38 exd4+ Kxd4 39 Bxf5 +– and 38 f4+!? Kd5 39 Rg7 Ke6 40 Rg5 +– are good) 38 f4+! (after 38 fxe3?, as played in the game, 38...Nf6! gives Black enough counterplay to draw, though very accurate play is needed) 38...Kd5 (38...Kd4 39 Rd6+ Kc3 40 Bxf5 +–) 39 Bxf5 +– and White wins. On 39...cxb4 there follows 40 Rg7.
Puzzle 504: White to play
Solution 504: White to play
Comellas – D.Graham
Hastings 2018/19
White mustn’t let Black put his knight on d5. 47 Be8! (White forces the pace by threatening mate; instead 47 Bc6? allows 47...Nd5 48 Bxd5 {48 Rxh7? c3 –+} 48...exd5 49 Rxc5 Rxa7 50 e4 =) 47...e5 48 Bc6 (a little more complicated is 48 fxe5+!? Ke6 49 Bd7+! Kxe5 50 Rxc5+ Rxc5 51 a8Q +–) 48...c3 49 a8Q Rxa8 50 Bxa8 c4 51 Be4 +–. White can safely give up his bishop for the two cpawns, leading to an easily winning endgame.
Puzzle 505: White to play
Solution 505: White to play
Khusenkhojaev – Bhambure
Mumbai 2018/19
White needs to make sure the black king is confined to the back rank before advancing his cpawn. 43 Rd7! (43 c7? Rc8 and the pawn won’t promote due to 44 Rb7?! Kf7 =+, when White must even be a little careful) 43...Rc8 (the game ended 43...Re8 44 c7 10) 44 c7 +–. There is no defence against the check on d8.
Puzzle 506: Black to play
Solution 506: Black to play
Daggupati – Abrahamyan (variation)
Burlingame 2019
After 47...Kd7! White’s pieces are paralysed, and he will have to give up his knight: 48 Kf3 Ke8 49 Nxg6 hxg6 –+.
Puzzle 507: Black to play
Solution 507: Black to play
Subrota – Arya
Mumbai 2018/19
It is vital to fix the pawn on f4, where it will be defenceless: 29...f5! 30 Bf3 b6 with a decisive advantage; e.g., 31 Ka2 Be3 –+.
Puzzle 508: White to play
Solution 508: White to play
Czebe – K.Trisha
Mumbai 2018/19
After 39 Rb7! Black can’t save his pinned knight because his pieces are too awkwardly placed to defend it: 39...Ke8 (or: 39...Kd8 40 Ba5+ Kc8 41 Rc7+ +–; after 39...Bxe5 White needs to insert 40 Bxe5! Rxe5 before winning material with 41 Bc6 +–) 40 Bc6 Rg7 (40...c4+ 41 Kb4 +– was played in the game) 41 Rb8+ Ke7 42 Bxd7 with an extra piece. On 42...Kxd7 there follows 43 Rb7+ +–.
Puzzle 509: White to play
Solution 509: White to play
Lugovskoi – Harshavardhan (variation)
Mumbai 2018/19
28 R5c3! (with the deadly threat of 29 Nc5) 28...Rc4 29 Rxc4 (or 29 Nc5 +–) 29...dxc4 30 Nc5 +– and Black can resign.
Puzzle 510: White to play
Solution 510: White to play
Kravtsiv – Mooketsi
Kazan tt 2013
There’s only one path to victory: 37 e7! (37 Qd5? throws away the win due to 37...Qe5 =, while after 37 Qe8+ Kh7 White must retrace his steps with 38 Qh5+ Kg8 since 38 e7? is met by 38...Qa1+) 37...Nxe7 38 Qe8+ Kh7 39 Qxe7 +– with an easy win.
Puzzle 511: Black to play
Solution 511: Black to play
Yu Zhuoming – Li Kam
Tianjin 2018/19
There’s no way to save the h6pawn, so Black must create counterplay: 48...Rf6! (not 48...Rc2? 49 Ne4 +–, when Black can’t attack the d3pawn quickly enough) 49 Be1 (the game ended 49 Ne4 Rf3 ½½ – the d3pawn will fall) 49...Rf3 (this is simplest, although 49...Kd5 also leads to a draw) 50 Kxh6 Re3 51 Ba5 Rf3 52 Be1 (no better is 52 Ne4 Rxd3) 52...Re3 with a repetition of moves.
Puzzle 512: White to play
Solution 512: White to play
S.White – Faulks
Hastings 2018/19
49 Ke6! (taking the h7pawn is bad because it gives the black knight time to return to the defence: 49 Rxh7? Nf3 and now White won’t be able to put his king on e6: 50 Ke6?? Ng5+ –+, 50 Ra7 Ng5 = or 50 Rh8+ Kf7 51 Rh7+ Kf8 52 Kc7 Ne5 =, as played in the game) 49...h5 (or: 49...Nf3 50 Kxf6 +–; 49...Ng4 50 Rxh7 Kg8 51 Rc7 +– shows that g4 is not a good square for the knight) 50 d6 Ng4 51 Rh7!? (this is even more effective than 51 d7 Bxd7+ 52 Rxd7 +–) 51...Kg8 (51...Bc6 52 Rf7+ Kg8 53 d7 +–) 52 d7 Bxd7+ 53 Rxd7 +– with an easy win.
Puzzle 513: White to play
Solution 513: White to play
Saurabh – Sundararajan
Mumbai 2018/19
White wins thanks to a few checks: 40 Nf6+ Kg7 (40...Kh6 41 Rxb4 +–) 41 Ne8+! (41 Nxh5+? gxh5 42 Rxb4 is insufficient for victory) 41...Kf8 42 Nd6+! Ke7 43 Nc8+ 1-0.
Puzzle 514: Black to play
Solution 514: Black to play
Naroditsky – A.Hong (variation)
Burlingame 2019
We need to assess the position correctly. Black must force an exchange of rooks, since otherwise he will be doomed by his bad king: 47...Rd4+! (47...Rd8? 48 Ra7 Rd5 49 Ra8 +–) 48 cxd4 Bxa3 49 Ne3 Bc1 50 Ke4 Kf8 with an equal ending.
Puzzle 515: White to play
Solution 515: White to play
N.Kumar – Y.Liou
Burlingame 2019
49 Rc5! (since Black can’t defend his d5pawn, he will be forced to exchange on c5, but this will lead to a hopeless bishop ending; not 49 Rxc4? dxc4, when White has lost control of Black’s passed pawn: 50 Be3 Bb2 51 g3 c3 52 Bd4 Ba1 =) 49...Ba5 (or 49...Rxc5 50 Bxc5 and now 50...Kd7 51 g3 d4 52 Kg2 +– or 50...d4 51 Kg1 d3 52 Kf2 +–) 50 g3! (White solves the problem of his weak back rank, removing Black’s last hope; weaker is 50 Rxd5?! Rc1 51 Rd6 Rb1 +/–) 50...Rxc5 (50...Ke7 51 Rxd5 +–) 51 Bxc5 +– with a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 516: White to play
Solution 516: White to play
V.Karthik – Daggupati
Burlingame 2019
To make progress, White needs to drive the black rook from the 5th rank: 31 f4! (not 31 Rd5? Re2 =) 31...Re4+ 32 Kb5 Rxf4 (the game featured 32...Rb4+ 33 Kxa5 Rxb2 {33...Rxf4 34 Kb5 +–} 34 Kxa4 +–) 33 c4! (33 Kxa5?! Rh4 gives Black chances to escape; e.g., 34 h3 g5 35 Kb5 f4 36 c4 f3!) 33...g5 34 c5 +– with a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 517: Black to play
Solution 517: Black to play
Wang Zijian – Gu Tianlu (variation)
Tianjin 2018/19
Black’s only hope is to find some tactic to unleash his passed pawn: 36...Nf3+! 37 Kh1 Rg4! 38 Rxg4 (38 gxf3? Rxe4 39 fxe4 e2 –+) 38...e2 (now Black will get a queen, and the position becomes unclear) 39 Rf4+ Kg6 40 Rxf3 e1Q and the ending is objectively drawn, as White clearly has a fortress if he wants, but can hardly hope to make any kind of progress.
Puzzle 518: White to play
Solution 518: White to play
Narciso Dublan – Kravtsiv
Madrid 2012
White must drive the black king away from the pawn, since he must avoid an exchange of rooks. 66 Rd4+! (not 66 Rxc4? Re3+ 67 Kd2 Kxc4 –+, while after 66 Rxg7? Re3+ White can’t be saved: 67 Kc2 Rh3 68 Ra7 Kd4 –+ or 67 Kb4 Rb3+ 68 Ka4 {as played in the game} 68...Rb1 –+) 66...Ke5 67 Rxc4 and despite the white king being so far away, Black cannot win the h5pawn: 67...Kf5 (67...Kf6 68 Rf4+ Kg5 69 Rf7 =) 68 Kd3 Kg5 (or 68...Re7 69 Rh4) 69 Rc7 with a drawn position.
Puzzle 519: Black to play
Solution 519: Black to play
Eggleston – Lyrberg
Stockholm 2018/19
The choice comes down to two rook moves. 39...Ra3? is wrong because after 40 Bf2 Ra2+ 41 Kf1 White is doing fine. For example: 41...Ra1+ 42 Ke2 Rg2 (or 42...Rh3 43 Rxa6 Ra2+ 44 Kf1 Rh2 45 Ne2!, with unclear play) 43 Rxa6 Ra2+ (43...c5 {played in the game} 44 Nb3 Ra2+ 45 Nd2 =) 44 Kd3 Rgxf2 45 Rxa5 with enough compensation for the exchange. The correct option is 39...Rc3! 40 Bf2 (40 Rxc7+ Ke8 41 Bf2 Rh3 –+) 40...Bxc4+ 41 Kd2 Rd3+ 42 Ke1 (no better is 42 Kc2 Rg2 43 Rxc4 Re3 44 Rxc7+ Kf6 –+) and now 42...Bd5! is the only move leading to victory: 43 Rxc7+ Kf6 44 Bxg3 fxg3 45 Ne2 Rxf3 –+ is an easy win.
Puzzle 520: White to play
Solution 520: White to play
Liu Guanchu – Ganguly (variation)
Tianjin 2018/19
Psychologically it is not so easy to retreat the bishop from its active posting to a passive one, but this is what is needed if White is to hold on. After 43 Bd2! (43 Kd3? Be7 44 Bxe7 Kxe7 45 Kxd4 Kd6 –+ is a hopeless pawn ending for White, while after 43 Bc5? Be7 44 Bxd4 Bxa3 –+ there is no holding back the two passed pawns) 43...Be7 44 Bc1 the black bishop cannot achieve anything on its own, while the black king can be held at bay by its white counterpart. 44...Ke6 45 Kd3 Bc5 46 Kc2 and White defends comfortably.
Puzzle 521: Black to play
Solution 521: Black to play
Sun Jihan – D.Wu
Tianjin 2018/19
In rook endings, it is often worth giving up a pawn or more to activate the rook: 40...b4! (not 40...Ra8? 41 Ra1 =+) 41 axb4 axb4 42 cxb4 Ra8! (but not 42...Kb5?, as played in the game, due to 43 Ra1! Kxb4 44 Rb1+ with an equal position) 43 Re1 Kb5 with a decisive advantage. There could follow 44 Re5 Kxb4 45 Rxd5 Ra2+ 46 Ke3 c3 (46...Rxg2!? –+) 47 Rxg5 Rxg2 –+.
Puzzle 522: White to play
Solution 522: White to play
D.Wu – Wang Zijian
Tianjin 2018/19
White mustn’t allow the black pawn to reach b3, so he has to take on b4. 35 Nxb4! This is the correct way to do so, as the pawn ending is tenable. After 35 axb4+? Kb5! 36 Kd2 Kc4 the passive knight on c2 dooms White: 37 Kc1 Be7 38 Kd2 Bh4 –+. 35 f3?, as played in the game, is also bad: 35...exf3+ 36 Kxf3 b3 37 Ne1 Bxa3 –+. 35...Bxb4 36 axb4+ Kxb4 37 Kd2 Kb3 38 Kc1 with an equal endgame.
Puzzle 523: White to play
Solution 523: White to play
Peng Hongchi – Yu Lei
Tianjin 2018/19
With the apawn the ‘wrong’ rook’s pawn for the white bishop, Black can hope to draw by eliminating the g and hpawns. It turns out that to avoid that happening, White must target the f6pawn before pushing his hpawn. 43 Bd4! The problem with 43 h5? (as played in the game) is 43...Nf8 44 Bd4 f5!, which leads to a drawn position: 45 g5 gxh5 46 Kh4 a6 47 Kxh5 Kc6 48 g6 Nxg6! =. 43...a6 The most stubborn. After 43...a5 White will continue in the same way, with the sole difference that the pawn will come under attack on a5. After 43...Kc6 44 Bxa7 +– White now has two passed pawns, while 43...f5 44 gxf5 gxf5 45 h5 is an easier win for White than the main line: 45...Nf8 (45...Kc6 46 Bg7 +–) 46 Kg3 Kc6 47 Bg7 Nh7 48 Kf4 +–. 44 h5 Nf8 Or 44...gxh5 45 gxh5 Kc6 46 h6 Nf8 47 Kg4! Kd5 48 Bxf6 Ke6 49 Bg7 Nh7 50 Kf4 +–. 45 Bxf6 Kc6 46 Kg3 Kd5 46...Kd7 47 Kf4 +–. 47 Kf4 Now Black loses because he cannot give up his knight for the h pawn. For example, after 47...Ne6+ 48 Ke3 Nf8 49 Bc3 +– Black is in zugzwang. He will have to let the white king advance, after which his position will be hopeless.
Puzzle 524: Black to play
Solution 524: Black to play
S.White – Faulks
Hastings 2018/19
The key to this ending is that the position with the black king on f8 and the white rook on e7 is reciprocal zugzwang. With White to play it’s a draw; with Black to move, White wins. Therefore: 58...Kg8! Not 58...Kf8? (played in the game) 59 Re7 Nf7 (59...Nd3 60 Rxe8+ Kxe8 61 d7+ +–) 60 Re6 f5 61 Rf6 +– with an easy win. 59 Re7 59 Rh2 Kg7 =. 59...Kf8 White can’t improve his position: 60 Re6 Kf7 61 Re7+ Kf8 =.
Puzzle 525: Black to play
Solution 525: Black to play
A.Aleksandrov – Rishi
Mumbai 2018/19
Before advancing the cpawn, Black needs to push the white king further into the corner. 55...Ke7! 55...Nxf4+? 56 Kf7 Kc6 57 Nc3!? Kd6 58 Kf6! = occurred in the game, while after 55...c3? 56 Nxc3 Nxc3 57 Kf7, thanks to his fast moving passed gpawn, White is no worse. 56 Kh6 After 56 f5 Nf4+ 57 Kh6 exf5 –+ Black can even give up his knight for the gpawn, as the white knight won’t be able to cope with two passed pawns. 56...c3 57 g6 57 Nxc3 Nxc3 58 g6 Nd5 –+. 57...c2 58 g7 c1Q 59 g8Q Qh1+ –+ Black wins a knight and the game.
Puzzle 526: Black to play
Solution 526: Black to play
R.Shah – Rebut
Mumbai 2018/19
Black can exploit the fact that the e3bishop is completely blocked in. 47...g5! 48 Ne2 Clearly White must move the knight (even though in the game he didn’t!). The other options: a) 48 Nxh5 Kg6 49 g4 f4 –+. b) After 48 Nd3 h4 49 d5! (49 gxh4 f4 –+) 49...hxg3+ 50 Kxg3 Black can win, but this is another of our exercises – see Puzzle 48...Bd5! 344. Not letting White open up any lines for the bishop. 48...h4? fails due to 49 d5 hxg3+ 50 Nxg3 f4 51 Bb6! =. 49 h4 49 Nc1 f4 –+. 49...f4 50 gxf4 gxh4 –+ with a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 527: White to play
Solution 527: White to play
Ruiz Castillo – T.Coleman
Burlingame 2019
The key point is that White cannot offer an exchange of bishops on d1 right now, as this would allow the black king to pick up the c5 pawn, resulting in a drawn pawn ending. 57 Ke3! Not: a) 57 a4? Kc7 58 Ke3 Bd5 59 a5 (59 Be4 Bxe4 =) 59...Kc6 =. b) 57 Bd1? Bxd1 58 Kxd1 Kc7 59 Kc2 Kc6 =. 57...Bxg4 Or: 57...Bc6 58 a4 Kc7 59 a5 +–; 57...Bg2 58 Be4 Bf1 59 a4 +– was played in the game. 58 a4 58 Be4? Bd1 =. 58...Kc7 59 a5 The white pawns advance quickly, and Black is short of the one tempo he needs to save his skin. 59 Be4 +– also wins. 59...Bh5 59...Kc6 60 a6 +–. 60 a6 Be8 61 Be4 Kb8 62 c6 +
Puzzle 528: Black to play
Solution 528: Black to play
Arya – M.Rahman (variation)
Mumbai 2018/19
Black mustn’t let the white king reach d3: 41...Bc2! (41...Kxd5? 42 Kd3 c2 43 Rh1 and White is holding on: 43...Ke5 44 Kd2) 42 d6 (42 Kf4 Kxd5 43 Rc1 h2 –+) 42...Bf5 43 Kxf3 (43 Rd1 c2 44 Rc1 Kc3 +) 43...Kxb4 and Black wins easily.
Puzzle 529: Black to play
Solution 529: Black to play
Mosadeghpour – Anuj
Mumbai 2018/19
The knight is notoriously bad at stopping passed rook’s pawns. 53...a4! 53...Rb3? (as played in the game) allows White to survive with 54 f3 a4 (after 54...Rb5 55 h4! White manages to cover g5, keeping the black king out, with unclear play after 55...a4 56 Nb4) 55 Nc5! Rxb2 56 Nxa4 =. 54 Nb4 Moves like 54 h4 allow the decisive 54...Rxb2! 55 Nxb2 a3 –+. 54...Kg5 White must either give up the h3pawn or drop his king back all the way to g2. 55 Kf3 55 f3 Kh4 –+. 55...Kh4 56 Kg2 e4 –+ with a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 530: White to play
Solution 530: White to play
Liu Yan – Zhao Yuanhe
Tianjin 2018/19
In rook endgames it is vital to determine where the king should be placed and what role it should play. A king misplaced by just one square can decide the outcome of the game. 64 Rf2! Gaining a vital tempo by improving the white king’s position. After 64 Rxf7+? Kxf7 the white king on f1 is too far away, so White does not have time to bring his rook to d4. 65 Kf2 (65 Rd6 a4 66 Ra6 Re4 –+) 65...Ke7 (played in the game) 66 Rc6 Kd7 –+. 64...Rxf2+ 65 Kxf2 Kf7 66 Rd6 Ke7 66...a4 67 Ra6 Re4 68 Kf3 = shows why the king needed to be on f2! 67 Rd4 Ke6 68 Kf3 Rb5 69 Ra4 1,295 and White holds the position. For example: 69...Kd5 70 Ke3 Kc5 71 Ra1 Kb6 72 Ke4.
Puzzle 531: Black to play
Solution 531: Black to play
Srihari – Pranesh
Mumbai 2018/19
Black can give up the e4pawn and concentrate on promoting a queenside pawn. 38...b5! Not 38...Ne7? 39 h5 d5 40 Kf4 with a roughly equal position. For example: 40...Ke6 (the game was agreed drawn here) 41 b4 Nf5 42 bxc5 bxc5 43 Bc1 =. 39 Kf5 c4! 40 bxc4 bxc4 41 Kxe4 c3 The cpawn cannot be stopped, but White still has one hope of saving the game. 42 Be1 42 Bc1 Nb4 –+. 42...c2 43 Bd2 Nb4 44 a3 Na2 45 h5!? Ke6! Black must avoid 45...c1Q? 46 Bxc1 Nxc1, when 47 g6+! enables White to eliminate all the remaining black pawns: 47...hxg6 48 hxg6+ Kxg6 49 Kd5 =. 46 g6 h6 Having avoided the liquidation of the kingside pawns, Black wins easily.
Puzzle 532: White to play
Solution 532: White to play
Ringoir – C.Yoo
Burlingame 2019
White can force a pawn through without the help of his king, but he needs to be careful how he deals with Black’s gpawn. 55 Kc3! 55 Ke3? g3 = was played in the game, while 55 e5? also fails to win: 55...g3 56 exf6+ Kf7 =. 55...Rb1 56 Kc2 Not 56 e5? g3 =. 56...Rb6 Or: 56...Rb5 57 Kd2 +–; 56...g3 57 Kxb1 g2 58 Rg8+ +–. 57 Kd2 g3 58 Ke2 Rb2+ 59 Kf1 After White plays e5, Black will be forced to give up his rook for the bpawn; e.g., 59...Kh7 60 Kg1 Kg7 61 e5 fxe5 62 f6+ +–.
Puzzle 533: Black to play
Solution 533: Black to play
E.Li – Betaneli
Burlingame 2019
If Black takes the a5pawn immediately, White can resist thanks to an awkward counterattack against the black pawns. 42...Ne6! 42...Rxa5? 43 Nb4 = is immediately drawish, while after 42...Nb3?! 43 Rb2 Nxa5 (43...Rxa5?! 44 Nb4! {as played in the game} 44...Nd4 45 Rd2 =) 44 Rxb5 cxb5 45 Kf2 Kf7 46 Nc7 (46 Ke2!?) 46...b4 47 Nxd5 White will save the game with further accurate play. 43 Ra2 Kf7! It is important to bring the king up so that White can’t drive the knight from e6. Now Black should win. Instead 43...c5? 44 f4 g6 45 g4! gives White enough counterplay. For example: 45...Nxf4 46 Nc7 Rb7 47 a6! is unclear. 44 Kf2 Slightly better is 44 f4!? Kf6 45 g4 g6!? (or 45...Nxf4 46 Nc7 Rb7 47 a6 Ra7 –+) 46 Kf2 c5 –+. 44...c5 45 Ke3 45 f4 Kf6 –+. 45...Ke7 46 Kd2 Kd6 –+ With White’s knight trapped on a6, he has a hopeless position.
Puzzle 534: Black to play
Solution 534: Black to play
E.Li – Betaneli
Burlingame 2019
Cutting off the white king is more important than winning a pawn. 61...Rb2! Not: a) 61...Rh2? 62 Kb4 Rxh3 transposes to the 61...Rg3? line. b) After 61...Rg3? 62 Kb4 Rxh3 (62...Kf6 63 Kc3 Rxh3 64 Kd2 =+ was played in the game) 63 Kc3 the white king returns to the kingside and the extra pawn will prove insufficient for victory. For example: 63...Rh6!? (63...Rh2 64 Rd7+ Kf6 65 Kd3 =+) 64 Rd7+! (64 Kd2? Re6 –+) 64...Kf8 65 Rd8+ Ke7 66 Rh8! and Black can’t cut the king off. 62 Ka4 62 Rd7+ Kf6 63 Rd6+ Ke7 64 Rd3 Ke6 –+. 62...Ke6 63 Ka3 Rh2 –+ Black has won a vital tempo and now has a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 535: White to play
Solution 535: White to play
J.Song – S.Spiegel
Hastings 2018/19
Passive defence will not save White. He needs to transfer his king to e3. 56 Re1! (after 56 Kg1? Kxh4 57 Kh2 Kg4 58 Re1 Kf4 59 Ra1 e3–+, as played in the game, Black soon won) 56...Kxh4 57 Kf2 Kg4 58 Ke3! (58 Ra1? Kf4 –+) 58...h4 59 Rg1+ Kf5 60 Rg8! (now that White has activated his rook, he has no special problems) 60...h3 61 Rh8 Kg4 62 Kf2 (but not 62 Rg8+? Kh4 63 Kf2 h2! 64 Rh8+ Bh5 65 Kg2 e3 –+, when Black gets a new queen) 62...Bg2 63 Rg8+ Kf4 64 Rf8+ =.
Puzzle 536: Black to play
Solution 536: Black to play
Norinkeviciute – L.Butt
Hastings 2018/19
With passed pawns racing on opposing flanks, you need to fight hard for every tempo! 86...Kc3!! Exploiting White’s lack of checking distance to improve the king’s position before winning the white rook. After the immediate 86...Ra1? 87 Rb4 b1Q 88 Rxb1 Rxb1 89 Kf3 = Black is not in time to win (compare the main line), while 86...Rg1+? 87 Kxg1 b1Q+ (as played in the game) 88 Kh2 gives White a solid fortress against the queen. 87 Re8 Ra1 88 Rb8 b1Q 89 Rxb1 Rxb1 –+ Of course, it is not so easy to calculate from the starting position right to the end of the line, but it is clear that Black’s chances are greatly helped by gaining time! Black is indeed winning here: 90 Kf3 (90 g5 Kc4 91 Kg3 Kd5 –+) 90...Kc4 91 Ke4 Kc5 92 Kf5 Kd6 and Black gets in front of the pawns. White would need to play 93 Kf6 Kd7 94 Kf7 to keep the black king out, but then 94...Rg1 starts picking off the pawns.
Puzzle 537: White to play
Solution 537: White to play
Arya – Czebe (variation)
Mumbai 2018/19
If Black has time to secure his king, he will win. So White urgently needs to create counterplay. 33 Qf7+! Bg7 34 Qa2! Taking aim at the a3pawn. Now White draws thanks to the threat of b6. After 34 Qd5? h5 –+ it is too late for 35 Qa2 since 35...Kh6 36 b6 Bd4 wins. 34...h5 Or 34...Kh8 35 b6 (35 e5!? also yields a draw) 35...Bd4 36 Qf7! Qxd2 (36...a2 37 Qf8+ Kh7 38 Qf7+ =) 37 Qe8+ Kh7 38 Qd7+! =. 35 b6! Bd4 35...Qxb6 36 Qxa3 =. 1,308 36 Qf7+ Kh6 37 Qf8+ Kh7 No better is 37...Bg7 38 Qf4+!. 38 Qf7+ with a repetition of moves.
Puzzle 538: Black to play
Solution 538: Black to play
Aditya – Deviatkin
Mumbai 2018/19
If Black defends passively, White will gradually exploit his advantage and win the game. 46...Re7! 46...Rc6? 47 Rxc6 Kxc6 48 Ng3 +– is easy enough for White, while 46...a4? 47 Rc8 axb3 48 axb3 +– is hopeless for Black. There may follow 48...Ra6 49 Rd8+ (as played in the game) 49...Ke6 50 Rxd4 +– or 48...Rc6 49 Rd8+ Ke6 50 Rb8 Rb6 51 Rh8 +–. 47 Nf6+ Or 47 Ng3 e4+ 48 Ke2 Bc5 and Black is fine. 47...Kd6 48 Ke4 Rf7! Black mustn’t let the king reach f5. 49 Ne8+ Ke7 50 Nc7 Rf4+ 51 Kd5 Rxg4 += Black is still worse, but should certainly hold the draw.
Puzzle 539: White to play
Solution 539: White to play
Kishor – Soham
Mumbai 2018/19
Material is level, but White has serious problems with his king. Ordinary moves would lead to defeat. 55 f5! Otherwise: 55 g5? h5 –+; 55 Kg3? Nc3 56 Kh3 Ne2 –+; 55 h5? (played in the game) 55...Qc1 56 f5 Nf4+ 57 Kg3 g5 –+. 55...gxf5 Or 55...g5 56 fxe6 Nf4+ 57 Kg3 Nxe6 (57...Ne2+ 58 Kh2 =) 58 hxg5 hxg5 59 Be7! =. The exchange of hpawns has left the black king exposed. 56 gxf5 Qxf5+ 57 Qxf5 exf5 58 h5! Fixing the pawn on h6 in order to attack it with the bishop. The position is close to a draw. For example, 58...Nf4+ 59 Kh4 f6 60 1,312 exf6 Nd5 61 Be5 Kf7 62 Bd6 Nxf6 63 Bf4 =.
Puzzle 540: White to play
Solution 540: White to play
Lu Shanglei – Liu Guanchu
Tianjin 2018/19
If you calculate the consequences of taking on e4, then the correct move is fairly easy to find. 50 Bh3! Not 50 fxe4? Rxg2+ (after 50...c2? 51 Kd2 Rxg2+ 52 Kc1 Rg8 53 Kxc2 {as played in the game} White is OK because there is no check on g3) 51 Kd3 Rg8, when unfortunately the king comes under check on c3: 52 Kxc3 (52 Be6 Rh8 53 e5 f3 –+) 52...h3! 53 Bxh3 Rg3+ –+. 50...e3 51 Kd3 Re8 52 Kxc3 Black has no way to strengthen his position: 52...Rf8 (52...e2? 53 c8Q+ +–) 53 Kd3 Re8 =.
Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed these puzzles. Let me know in the comments how many puzzles you solved, and stay tuned for Part 6.
